Board Member Spotlight: Devin Driscoll

Strength. Perseverance. Self-belief. These are all attributes that describe Survivor Fitness participants as they work to regain their health and fitness after treatment. Coincidentally, they’re also the characteristics that board member Devin Driscoll knows well — not only through his own story but through the countless athletes and individuals he has trained over the years. 

Today, Devin owns six D1 training facilities across Tennessee and Alabama. He also sits on D1 Corporate Training Panel, Franchise Advisory Council, and Validation Committee, where he utilizes his experience to support the 110 D1 franchises across the country.  

Devin’s journey in fitness and training began well before he connected with D1 founder, Will Bartholemew, in 2017. As a Knoxville native, Devin grew up playing sports throughout his childhood. Devin went on to play collegiate athletics and even wrestled for the WWE Federation for two years.

“I always loved lifting and training,” Devin said. “But I fell in love with fitness and recovery when I blew out my knee in college.”  

The lifelong passion Devin discovered in college became a career when he opened his own personal training company, Next Level Fitness, in 2007. At Next Level, he worked primarily with high school and college athletes. After nearly a decade of building his business, Devin connected with D1, creating the perfect opportunity to franchise multiple locations successfully. 

Devin’s passion for fitness and expertise in business intertwined with a few personal experiences when he first learned about Survivor Fitness in 2021. Like many Survivor Fitness board members and advocates, Devin’s had a front-row seat to the impact that a cancer diagnosis and treatment can have after watching multiple family members battle cancer, including his mother. 

“The first person I thought of when I heard about Survivor Fitness was my mom,” Devin explained. “She was actually my first client when I started my business. Knowing what she went through and how challenging it is to get back to the gym after treatment was something I’ll never forget.” 

After connecting with Survivor Fitness founder Aaron Grunke, Devin began using his local connections to support the Knoxville market while exploring opportunities for growth throughout the entire D1 community. Devin recognizes the welcoming environment at D1 is an ideal space for Survivor Fitness participants to train. 

“After treatment, the last place you want to go is somewhere that feels like a hospital,” he said. “D1 has such a different environment. Because so many of our clients are training for something, we’ve created a space that inspires people.” 

Devin officially joined the Survivor Fitness board of directors in 2023 and is looking forward to using his connections and knowledge to impact even more lives through the program.

“What excites me the most is being able to create connections between Survivor Fitness and the relationships we have to grow exponentially quicker.” 

After observing the community-oriented momentum that has grown within the fitness space in recent years, Devin is excited to see how the entire fitness community could wrap its arms around the mission of Survivor Fitness to support cancer survivors after treatment.

“It’s been so cool to see how people have come together and supported one another in the fitness community over the years,” he shared. “There’s so much momentum for the community. I think that’s where our team at D1 can really help the future of Survivor Fitness.”  

Participant Spotlight: Shaundrea Kee

At 28 years old, Shaundrea Kee was enjoying life as a newlywed and mother to a beautiful one-year-old girl. She was active and enjoyed working out at her local gym. However, it all seemed to change in just one morning after she found a lump in her breast.

After running ultrasounds and mammograms, the doctors informed Shaundrea that she had  HER2+ breast cancer. In order to fight cancer quickly, Shaundrea began a treatment plan that included six rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and a year of immunotherapy.

Like most cancer patients, Shaundrea had to deal with difficult and sometimes debilitating side effects of treatment. The chemotherapy affected her appetite, which made it challenging to eat anything and caused Shaundrea to lose over 25 pounds in the span of a few short months. 

“It was very difficult because I was once very active in the gym,” Shaundrea shared. “The hardest part was remembering how healthy and active I was right before being diagnosed. I had a goal of entering an NPC bikini competition but that quickly changed.”

Finding Great Strength

After treatment, Shaundrea was determined to work on her physical health and return to her previous activity level. That’s when she heard about Survivor Fitness from a friend. She realized that joining the program would help her regain the strength and stamina she had lost during treatment.  

“I wanted to have the guidance and help to ease me back into the gym,” she recalled. “But I didn’t realize how much I would love having a trainer cheer for me and encourage me during workouts.” 

Shaundrea was paired with a personal fitness trainer, Karen Kuzmyn, to begin bi-weekly workouts over the span of the next three months. As they worked together, Shaundrea recognized that Karen seemed to know exactly when she needed to be encouraged and when she needed to be challenged in the gym. 

“Karen was an absolute godsend,” Shaundrea said. “She challenged and encouraged me physically and mentally.”

More Park Dates and Bike Rides

As she continued through the program, Shaundrea noticed her energy levels increasing and her mood improving. Gradually, she began to feel like her old self again. This was most evident in her newfound energy to enjoy time with her daughter again. 

“Being in the gym helped me to increase my energy so that I could play with my daughter at the park or ride bikes together,” Shaundrea said. “I was afraid that I would never get back to feeling this good while going through treatments.”

Like most Survivor Fitness participants, Shaundrea learned how meaningful it can be to be surrounded by personal support after cancer treatment. She also recognized how valuable it can be to participate in a program that not only focuses on physical health but on the mental and nutritional aspects of well-being.  

“I feel so much better inside and out,” she shared. “Having this program support you so thoroughly really gives you that motivation to go even harder for yourself.” 

Get Back to Living with Survivor Fitness 

Survivor Fitness has worked alongside survivors of every age, fitness level, and diagnosis to help individuals achieve their fitness goals after cancer treatment. While each participant’s journey is unique, every cancer survivor’s story gives us the momentum to continue providing this service to those who need it most. To learn more about becoming a Survivor Fitness participant, connect with us today.

Partner Spotlight: Brandon Holt & Personal Best Fitness

Survivor Fitness wouldn’t exist without the dozens of trainers, nutrition specialists, and fitness center managers who work with participants every day. Brandon Holt, Trainer at Personal Best Fitness in Brentwood, TN, has been there since the very beginning. 

After surviving an aggressive form of testicular cancer at the age of 23, Survivor Fitness Founder, Aaron Grunke, had the idea for a nonprofit that would empower survivors to truly overcome cancer through health and wellness. He took the idea to Brandon to discuss what the program could look like and how they could raise enough money to get the idea off the ground. 

“This is Going to Change So Many Lives”

As a certified fitness trainer, Brandon helped design a training template that participants could follow while Aaron worked on the organizational details. With the framework in place, it was time to start raising awareness and funds. 

“In early 2013, I had this crazy idea that we should walk 24 straight hours on a treadmill to raise the money,” Brandon recalled. “24 hours (59 miles), $10,000, and too many blisters to count later, we had the money to take our first client.” 

Our very first Survivor Fitness Participant was Cheryl. She had recently finished treatment and was looking to “feel like herself again.” Brandon began training Cheryl through a 12-week program. About halfway through the program, Brandon got a visit he’ll never forget.  

“I’ll never forget the day that Cheryl’s husband and children walked into my office unexpectedly just to tell me ‘thank you,’” Brandon shared. Cheryl’s family had already recognized a difference in her and wanted to express their gratitude for helping her gain back her confidence. 

Brandon immediately called Aaron and said, “This is going to change lives!” 

10 years later, that’s definitely true.

Impacting More Lives With Personal Best Fitness 

In 2018, Brandon joined the team at Personal Best Fitness. Getting Survivor Fitness going at Personal Best was a priority for him, and their team quickly started training participants.

To date, the team at Personal Best has trained more than two dozen participants. Their stories continue to inspire Brandon and the other trainers at Personal Best to tell as many people about the program as they can. Like many trainers and dietitians who partner with Survivor Fitness, Brandon described how he always gets more from the participants than he can ever give to them.

“Survivor Fitness participants are some of the most grateful, hardworking, and motivated clients I have ever worked with in my 20+ years of personal training,” Brandon recalled. “Each participant has such a unique story full of highs and lows but with a victorious ending.”

“Getting Your Life Back is a Marathon, Not a Sprint”

After training more than 20 cancer patients over the years, Brandon has learned some incredibly insightful lessons when it comes to regaining strength after treatment. One of the first things Brandon often encourages participants to remember is that getting your life back is a marathon, not a sprint. 

“The first step is the hardest,” he shared. “Once you walk through that door and meet your trainer, you can have confidence that everyone is working very hard to make sure you have a great, safe experience. The community that surrounds you wants nothing more than for you to be successful.” 

After more than a decade of working with participants, Brandon is still excited every time a new Survivor Fitness participant walks in the door, and he continues to be one of the biggest advocates for post-treatment training.

“Whether you are a trainer or gym thinking about if Survivor Fitness might be a good fit, or if you are a potential participant, just do it,” Brandon said. “You will not regret it.”

We’re incredibly grateful for all the work Brandon and the team at Personal Best have put into making Survivor Fitness what it is today. He has been involved in everything from designing our training template, participating in our very first fundraising event, and continually advocating for our mission.

If you’re a trainer, dietitian, or health professional interested in joining the Survivor Fitness partner network, we’d love to share more information with you. If you’re a cancer survivor in Tennessee, connect with our team today to learn how you can get started with our program!

Participant Spotlight: Suzanne Gaulden

One reality of surviving cancer is that getting back to “normal” is often a long and difficult journey. Recovering from the whirlwind of diagnosis and treatment creates a new set of physical, mental, and emotional challenges for survivors. It’s hard to explain or understand unless you’ve experienced it. In some ways, life after cancer can feel even more isolating and lonely because so much of the everyday support patients receive from friends, family, and doctors seems to come to an end once treatment is over. 

After six months of treatment for breast cancer—including appointments, scans, ultrasounds, biopsies, surgeries, and 16 rounds of radiation—Survivor Fitness participant Suzanne Gaulden found the empathy and understanding she needed from her family and trainer Ainsley at Rise Fitness in Mount Juliet, TN. 

“Picking Up the Pieces” with Someone Who Understands

Suzanne was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in April of 2022 at the age of 38. Suzanne managed her treatment plan while working full-time and taking care of her family. Like most cancer patients with a young family, her own mental health and exercise took a backseat to everything else during treatment. After six months, she wanted to take steps toward recovery but wasn’t exactly sure where to start. 

“For me, the hardest part has been picking up the pieces and dealing with the aftermath of having cancer, “ Suzanne said. “I was in survival mode from April to September. When all my treatments were finished, I was finally able to begin dealing with everything that I had gone through.”

That’s when Suzanne learned about Survivor Fitness from her oncologist. The idea of working with someone who knew what cancer treatment does to a patient’s body and mind was a key factor that inspired Suzanne to start the program. 

“Working with a trainer is one thing, but working with someone who understands everything we have gone through is completely different,” she explained. “It made such a difference working with a trainer who gets when I was having a rough day, understands why I have a limited range of motion in one arm, and recognizes that I’m not trying to get out of doing an exercise when I say that something hurts.”

Like many Survivor Fitness participants, Suzanne enjoyed an active life before her diagnosis. Part of her treatment plan included medically-induced menopause which, along with her medications, caused Suzanne to gain weight in a way that was new for her. 

“The hardest part of recovery has been learning to love this new version of me and to value my strength and not judge myself for not being the same size I was a year ago,” she said. “It’s a huge hurdle that I am still working to overcome.”

Gaining a Friend While Regaining Strength 

Through the program, Suzanne regained just as much mental strength as she did physically. She found a tremendous amount of comfort in working with a trainer who understood the impact of cancer treatment, encouraged her to decelerate when she wasn’t feeling 100 percent, and challenged her to push herself when she could. 

“I feel more confident in the gym and have a whole new set of exercises to pull from,” she explained. “But even more than that, I didn’t have to be in a good mental place when I was there.”

There were many days when Suzanne felt like she had to “hold things together” through treatment and often felt like she had to present as if everything was great when it wasn’t. Through Survivor Fitness, she found strength and motivation by showing up—just as she was, with whatever she had to offer that day. 

“I got stronger, faster, and I feel fitter. But more than anything, I made a friend that I will have for a long time. Ainsley was the perfect trainer for what I needed at that time in my life.” 

Looking for Inspiration and Encouragement on Your Recovery Journey?

Suzanne is a great example of the community and encouragement that can be discovered through Survivor Fitness. If you or someone you know is a cancer survivor looking to regain health and wellness after cancer treatment, we’re here for you! 

Connect with us today to learn more about the specific ways Survivor Fitness can support you on your journey to regain health and strength after cancer.

Partner Spotlight: A|Train Fitness Coaching

One of the gifts we’ve experienced at Survivor Fitness is the opportunity to partner with world-class fitness centers and nutrition partners across Tennessee. And while participants often talk about how life-changing it is to work with a fitness specialist, the experience is just as impactful for our coaches and trainers. 

Every trainer, fitness center, and nutritional specialist we partner with has their own reason for being part of the Survivor Fitness network. For some, it’s an opportunity to help make a tangible difference for someone who’s gone through a difficult season. Others have a more personal connection. That’s the story for Anita Slaughter, owner of A|Train Fitness Coaching in Nashville. 

Anita has been a personal trainer and fitness coach for more than 20 years. While some trainers are drawn to the performance coaching and aesthetic component of fitness, Anita always knew the health component would drive her fitness career. She also had a personal connection with cancer that made her decision to partner with Survivor Fitness a “no-brainer.” 

“My mother had a full hysterectomy and double mastectomy by the age of 34. She had non-Hodgkins lymphoma as a teenager. She’s a fighter through and through,” Anita recalled. “Knowing the impact fitness and proper nutrition has on our overall health and ability to fight off cancer and disease is all the inspiration I need!”

Anita and her team at A|Train have been working with Survivor Fitness participants for years. As a Cancer Exercise Specialist Certification Facility, the team at A|Train does an incredible job of helping participants take a step-by-step approach toward wellness, focusing on one day at a time.

Getting Survivors Back on Their Feet Again 

Every Survivor Fitness participant has their own unique story and journey of recovery. Most are looking for ways to recover at least some of the strength and endurance they experienced before their diagnosis. Everyone’s journey is different as they look to recover strength and return to their routines after a cancer diagnosis. Anita highlighted one particular story in which that goal was quite literal. 

“If I had to single out a particularly inspiring moment, it was a client who was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma and lost a good portion of her quadricep muscle,” Anita shared.  

The participant’s only goal was to be able to get off the ground after playing with her grandchildren. She had been told by a physical therapist that she had too much muscle loss to be able to push up from the ground without assistance. Carrie Loughlin, the participant’s A|Train Fitness coach, suggested they just work with the muscles that were still functioning effectively. 

“I’ll never forget that moment. I was at my desk, and I heard shouting and I thought something horrific happened,” Anita remembered. “I ran downstairs to find her crying tears of joy!  For the first time, she was able to stand up from the floor on her own!”  

It was a moment that no one in that room will ever forget. Anita described how they were all in tears and their outlook on life was forever changed. 

Experiencing a Future of Hope 

It can be overwhelming for cancer survivors to even know where to begin after a life-altering experience. The team of coaches at A|Train do an incredible job of guiding and directing participants to undertake safe and effective fitness programs. 

Every cancer survivor they train receives a personalized approach. Anita and her team tailor each program based on the participant’s age, diagnosis, fitness level, and what treatments they received.

The recovery journey is full of difficult and challenging moments. But it’s a different kind of journey than the one cancer survivors experience during treatment. 

“My favorite part of working with participants is the first time they see HOPE in their future,” Anita described. “For us to be able to provide direction and guidance toward a healthy future makes my heart full. It is an emotional journey and lots of tears of joy are shed throughout the process.”

Join the Survivor Fitness Community

We’re incredibly grateful for the team at A|Train and the life-changing expertise they offer Survivor Fitness participants.

If you’re a personal trainer or fitness center who is interested in supporting cancer survivors after treatment, connect with our team to learn how you can join the Survivor Fitness network.

If you’re a cancer survivor looking to “get back on your feet” after treatment, we’d love for you to check out our program or submit an application today! 

Participant Spotlight: Ursula Dahnelt

Survivor Fitness was founded on the principle of supporting cancer survivors  “no matter your age, no matter your fitness level, no matter your diagnosis.” Because of technology like video-conferencing, we’ve also been able to add “location” to our list of “no matters”. While Survivor Fitness was founded in Nashville and has expanded to cities across Tennessee, several of our fitness partners also offer virtual training courses which have created the opportunity to serve cancer patients in rural areas or even different states.  

Ursula Dahnelt is a Survivor Fitness participant who recently completed our training program virtually. She has proven that a desire to stay healthy is all you need to take the steps from survivor to thriver. 

A Long Battle with Cancer

Ursula is a Colorado native who loves to hike and explore the outdoors. In 2017, Ursula was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. For her, coming to accept her diagnosis was the hardest part of the journey which included five years of constant treatment. 

“I have been in a lot of treatment for the last five years with only little breaks,” Ursula recalled. “It puts a toll on body and mind.” 

The harsh medication caused Ursula to experience a lot of fatigue. She also lost strength along the way which was frustrating. Thankfully, her treatment plan worked, but after five years of constant treatment, Ursula struggled to find the motivation to get back into fitness again. That’s when she stumbled across Survivor Fitness.

“I saw Survivor Fitness mentioned online. I don’t remember where exactly, but I was intrigued and immediately sent an email expressing my interest.” 

A Turning Point of Accomplishment

Ursula was connected with Emma, one of our Survivor Fitness training coaches, in September of 2022. Together, they met online twice a week for three months. After her first training session, Ursula was hooked.  

“Emma made the class fun, and I gained strength week by week. It is not easy with age, but I am grateful that she helped me obtain my goal of getting stronger again.” 

Ursula completed the 12-week training program without missing a single class. After completing her sessions, she recalled how the program helped her address the toll that treatment had on her mentally and physically. Through a mix of functional strength training exercises, Ursula was able to build power, increase endurance, and gain better posture. Her confidence also grew along the way. 

“Survivor Fitness helped me build up my strength and become confident in myself again. I love being able to open bottles and containers with my own strength. That is a wonderful accomplishment.” 

A New Journey in the Right Direction

Like many Survivor Fitness participants, Ursula used the program as a springboard to continue her recovery journey. Today, Ursula continues to attend strength and fitness training classes at her local training center. 

“Survivor Fitness was such a great find to move in the right direction again. It was not easy, but my motivation to complete the program then allowed me to continue outside of Survivor Fitness by attending local classes.” 

She credits her time with Emma and Survivor Fitness as a turning point in her recovery journey.

“The Survivor Fitness training gave me an edge to join those classes. Without those three months of private training with Survivor Fitness, I would have become discouraged very fast and would have ended up not continuing with my workouts.”

Interested in Becoming a Survivor Fitness Participant?

We realize that cancer doesn’t discriminate and wanted to create a program that would be beneficial for any and every survivor. As a result, we’ve worked with participants from all walks of life. Our fitness trainers understand the toll that cancer treatment has on the body and do an incredible job of working with each participant to develop a personal training routine that leads to transformation and cultivates the motivation to continue their post-cancer journey. 

If you or someone you know is a cancer survivor looking to regain health and wellness after cancer, we’re here for you! Connect with us today to learn more about our program as well as our in-person or virtual training options.

Partner Spotlight: Performance Training, Inc.

performance training team

When Survivor Fitness launched our program in Nashville in 2013, we quickly realized how many cancer survivors across our state needed support when it came to building strength, losing weight, or regaining a sense of normalcy after a cancer diagnosis. Initially, we began partnering with trainers and fitness centers in Brentwood and Murfreesboro. In 2018, we had the opportunity to expand into our next major city: Knoxville. As we were looking for a way to expand the reach of our program, our friends at Performance Training enthusiastically offered their support. The owner of Performance Training, Jackie Ansley, and her team were passionate about learning everything they could to support cancer survivors during recovery. 

Jared Lawrence, Director of Development & Marketing at Performance Training, worked with our very first Survivor Fitness participant in Knoxville. Today, he is the first point of contact for our Knoxville participants who train at PTI. Like many of the trainers and dietitians who work with participants, Jared’s life has been impacted by the program just as much as the people he trains.

A New Perspective About What’s Possible 

“Before I started with Survivor Fitness, cancer was just a word to me because I hadn’t been personally impacted by it,” Jared explained. “Now that I’ve seen the difference that health and fitness make for people after treatment, I want to help in every single way that I can.” 

Jared understands that signing up for a fitness program after treatment might be intimidating. That’s why the team at PTI has done an incredible job of creating a positive and encouraging environment for people of every age, fitness level, or diagnosis. 

“If you come in just once, you’ll quickly realize that you’re not alone,” Jared said. “We’re going to welcome you and accept you where you are. You might meet three or four other cancer survivors along the way.”

Countless Stories of Inspiration and Transformation

Jared is inspired by the transformation that participants experience from their first visit to the gym to the conclusion of their program. As he recalled his experience with Survivor Fitness, Jared reflected on numerous stories of the many participants that have benefited. 

One such participant was named Deb. Deb was the first Survivor Fitness participant in Knoxville. (And she just recently celebrated her 5-year cancer-free anniversary!) Although she was initially hesitant to start training, today she participates in the SF group fitness program at PTI multiple days per week. 

Jared also recalled working with a 30-year-old participant who was looking to gain strength after cancer treatment. He wanted to regain strength in his legs so he could get back to the lifting he enjoyed before cancer. When he first started the program, he could only squat around 100 pounds. When he left, he was squatting 315!

“Honestly, it’s hard for me to pick a single inspiring moment or story because they all are special,” Jared said. “There are countless moments of encouragement, hope, and positivity that I’ve seen over the years.” 

Helping Survivors “Get Their Glow Back” 

Jared and the team at Performance Training are intentional about giving participants the peace of mind that they can achieve things that seem impossible when they first start. 

“It might be easy for people to think there’s so much they CAN’T do because they had cancer,” he recalled. “Yet, they’ve survived surgery, cancer, chemo, and/or radiation. We want to help them realize they actually CAN do it.”

That’s what Jared likes to see. Getting people back to the point that they could do things that they thought they could never do again.

“Many of the participants get their glow back,” he expressed. “I love getting to tell people that they are going to be able to regain some of the stuff they lost during cancer, like picking up their grandkids, running around with their kids, or running a half marathon.” 

To date, the team at Performance Training has served more than 80 participants. Their team has worked with over a dozen cancer survivors this year alone. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership and look forward to more stories of transformation for our Knoxville Survivor Fitness participants for years to come. 

If you’re a cancer survivor in Tennessee, connect with our team today to learn how you can get started with our program!

Participant Spotlight: Natasha Leeth

As a wife, mother, grandmother, and licensed therapist, Natasha’s life was filled with the joyful gifts and responsibilities that come with caring for others. Like most survivors, Natasha Leeth’s story is intertwined with other events and occasions in her life.  

Natasha’s battle with cancer began in March 2021, when her doctor requested a follow-up visit after her annual exam. She scheduled her appointment the day before her daughter’s 17th birthday. That day, her doctor informed her that she had DCIS and would need to be seen by a breast surgeon. 

“I was by myself because I wasn’t expecting any bad news,” Natasha said. “I was in disbelief. I had been consistently receiving my yearly exam, and then this?”

The Highs of Life with the Lows of Cancer

After her diagnosis, Natasha met with her wonderful team of doctors to develop a plan. But after two unsuccessful lumpectomy surgeries, she decided to have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Her doctors also determined that she needed a short round of chemotherapy.

“My daughter started the first day of her senior year of high school and I headed to chemo on the same day,” she shared. “I was unable to attend a lot of her senior activities and missed my son’s entire basketball season due to being exhausted and immunocompromised.” 

Despite the side effects of treatment, Natasha still found a way to make her family feel important. Their support also made a tremendous difference in her fight. Thankfully, Natasha’s final surgery was successful, and she was able to return to work seven months later.

Tackling Life’s Responsibilities with “A Better, Stronger Me”

After needing to rest and recover for over seven months, Natasha knew she needed to do something to regain her strength. While talking with her surgeon about physical therapy options, she was given a brochure about the Survivor Fitness program. Natasha will always remember walking out of the office, reading it, and contacting the Survivor Fitness team while she was waiting to see her oncologist the same day! 

“Cancer changed my life. Learning new ways to keep moving forward became my focus,” she described. “I wanted a program that would understand what I was going through and be sensitive to that.” 

Alongside her personal trainer, Natasha figured out how to make exercise and fitness a priority in her everyday routine.

“Having a family, I constantly neglected my physical health,” she said. “The program provided me with the accountability and structure I needed to get back to my active lifestyle.”

Like most Survivor Fitness participants, Natasha was amazed by the results she experienced. The program allowed Natasha to engage in her normal joyful experiences and responsibilities. 

“I am able to carry my grandbaby without any difficulty. I was also able to care for my son (who is 6’6”) when he broke his leg.” she shared. “I am so grateful to the program for helping me be a better, stronger me!” 

A New Outlook on Life and Work

Like many cancer survivors, Natasha’s battle with cancer was life-changing in so many ways. While the journey was difficult, it also inspired Natasha to explore a new opportunity to help and serve others. After her treatment and experience with Survivor Fitness, Natasha decided to find ways that she could support clients who want to integrate health and wellness with traditional counseling. 

“Now I am training to be a health and wellness coach in addition to providing psychotherapy! I was blessed throughout my journey in many ways and I hope to be a blessing to others.”

Survivor Fitness played a pivotal role in Natasha’s cancer recovery journey. Now, she can make a positive impact on the lives of countless people through her new vocation in health and wellness, in addition to the difference she’s already making as a wife, mother, and grandmother. 

Become Part of the Survivor Fitness Movement

If you or someone you know is a cancer survivor looking to regain strength and health after cancer, we’re here for you! Connect with us today to learn more about participating in our program or check out more stories of other participants or learn how you can help others heal by donating to Survivor Fitness.  

Participant Spotlight: Victoria May

We often hear our participants say that the need for support doesn’t end after cancer treatment ends. For many survivors, a cancer diagnosis and treatment can have physical and emotional consequences that last for months or years after their initial diagnosis. That was also the experience of Survivor Fitness participant Victoria May. 

Victoria was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer in 2019. In addition to undergoing a single mastectomy, Victoria underwent several surgeries and had to fight numerous infections during her treatment. After her final surgery, Victoria was diagnosed with lymphedema—an uncomfortable and often painful build-up of lymphatic fluid—in her right arm. 

Seeing Tangible Results, One Step at a Time

Victoria experienced many side effects of breast cancer treatment, including weakness, weight gain, and scar tissue development. She also had swelling and pain in her arm and hand from the lymphedema. 

In order to treat the lymphedema, Victoria wore a compression sleeve for more than a year. During that year, Victoria heard about Survivor Fitness and decided to reach out. 

“I started Survivor Fitness to help me learn from a trainer how to properly work out, especially with the lymphedema,” Victoria said. “And I wanted to take back my life and create better habits for myself.“ 

Victoria filled out the application and was connected with a trainer who designed a personal fitness plan that would help her achieve her goals. Like many Survivor Fitness participants, Victoria received a scholarship that allowed her to participate in the program at no cost. 

Over the course of 12 weeks, Victoria worked out with several trainers to regain strength and relieve some of her physical discomfort. This made a tremendous difference in her recovery journey. 

“I know that I feel stronger and have less pain and my arm feels much better,” she said. “I know working out helped my lymphatic flow.”

Victoria acknowledges that her trainers have made a tremendous impact on the mental and emotional aspects of recovery as well. 

“[My trainers] have been some of my biggest supporters and are so knowledgeable and encouraging,” she mentioned. “I can’t thank them enough.”

Embracing the New Victoria

Today, Victoria continues to participate in the Survivor Fitness program through small-group sessions. This allows her to keep up her workout routine. Having a group to work with offered her helpful accountability. 

“This program is too good to pass up,” Victoria said. “To have such an opportunity given to me was too good to not go for!”

Like most cancer survivors, the journey after treatment hasn’t been easy for Victoria. But her strong spirit and decision to accept her situation proved to be life-altering moments.

“The most difficult part of the journey was realizing that I was never going to be the same again. I had to embrace the change in myself both physically and mentally. Once I started doing that, I was able to move forward and embrace a new me. Survivor Fitness has definitely helped me do that.”

When asked what advice she would give someone who has experienced similar challenges, Victoria summed it up perfectly:

“Talk to people to see what will be right for you. The bottom line is, you have to start somewhere. We never know until we try, so what are you waiting for?”

Interested in Becoming a Survivor Fitness Participant?

Victoria’s bravery to start the program and perseverance to continue the journey has been such an inspiration to our team at Survivor Fitness. If you or someone you know is a cancer survivor looking to regain health and wellness after cancer, we’re here for you! Connect with us today to learn more.

Partner Spotlight: Chadwick’s Fitness

Survivor Fitness was founded with a vision to aid cancer survivors in their transition after treatment by helping them regain their health and wellness through personal training and nutrition coaching. Today, we’ve been able to partner with hundreds of courageous cancer survivors across Tennessee. This possibility became a reality because of the incredible partnerships we’ve developed with fitness centers and personal trainers across the state. Chadwick’s Fitness in Cool Springs was one of our first partners to offer its facility and services in service of our mission. 

For the past six years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with Abby Johnson. As General Manager, Abby is often the first contact point for participants. She works with participants to help connect them with one of Chadwick’s personal trainers and get them started with their 12-week training program. 

A Team of Specialists Who Care

As a world-class training facility, Chadwick’s provides each participant with a personal training program built with specific exercises for regaining health and strength after cancer treatment. As part of the initial onboarding process, their trainers work with each participant to conduct an initial mobility and stability assessment. This provides a foundation and framework that will help the participant focus on their greatest needs and regain their strength. 

“Cancer treatment and recovery take such a toll on a person’s body,” Abby explained. “One of the first things we want to do is help participants ensure their spine is stabilized, activate muscles that haven’t been used in a while, and regain core strength by focusing on certain muscle patterns. These are really important foundations that they can use to build upon in the future.” 

Each Chadwick’s trainer works with participants by meeting them where they are and building a custom plan to help them move forward. Because several trainers are certified in providing fitness training for cancer survivors, they often share insights and best practices amongst their team to create the best plan for each participant. It’s obvious that the expertise and intentionality they put into their work make a difference. 

“It’s so inspiring when a participant starts the program, and they’re not sure if they can do it… only to see them with tears of gratitude in their eyes two to three weeks later,” Abby said. “That transition from being so afraid and physically weak to confident and committed is a beautiful thing to see.” 

The (Inspirational) Feeling is Mutual

This experience—seeing transformation happen for people who are so committed to regaining their wellness—is one of the most mutually beneficial aspects of the program. While Survivor Fitness participants often describe it as a “life-changing” experience, Chadwick’s trainers are also deeply affected by the relationship.  

“One of my favorite parts about partnering with Survivor Fitness is when one of our staff members comes and tells the story from their point of view,” Abby described. “It can be very emotional and inspiring for our trainers to work with participants. Often our lives are just as impacted by their stories as their lives are impacted by our training.” 

A Shared Commitment To Impacting More Lives

One of the most meaningful aspects of our partnership with Chadwick’s is that supporting cancer survivors is a value for their entire team. Each trainer at Chadwick’s has personally worked with at least one Survivor Fitness participant. To date, the team at Chadwick’s has helped more than 75 participants in the Nashville area regain their strength and vitality through one-on-one personal training. 

Their entire team encourages and cares for each Survivor Fitness participant on their recovery journey. 

“If there’s one thing I would say to someone who is considering becoming a participant, I would say do not hesitate to make a phone call,” Abby noted. “Even if you think, ‘I didn’t have that hard of a cancer battle,’ you should look into it. If you’re someone who battled cancer, this is specifically for you.” 

Abby’s commitment to supporting cancer patients extends beyond her work as General Manager at Chadwick’s. She also serves on the advisory board for the Survivor Fitness Foundation. In this role, Abby creates connections with other fitness centers across Tennessee. As Survivor Fitness looks for strategic and scalable ways to support even more cancer survivors, Abby’s experience provides valuable insights to help build relationships with fitness centers and trainers.  

“Survivor Fitness has an amazing mission,” said Abby. “I love that we’re able to bring personal training to people who would not otherwise consider it.”