Through our lens, Miceli Productions is sometimes lucky enough to capture moments of community spirit. We always try to take the opportunity to share these moments with others and showcase the programs that we think make a difference in people's lives. Recently, we had the privilege to be asked to photograph the graduation of the first Southington YMCA LIVESTRONG class.
The Southington YMCA was one of 16 YMCAs in the nation to receive a grant to implement the program as a result of the 2011 LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project, an online community voting campaign. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is part of a multiyear collaboration between YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for the Y, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the organization created in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people living with cancer and empower communities to take action.
LIVESTRONG at the Southington YMCA is a FREE twelve-week, small group program designed for adult cancer survivors under the guidance of specially trained health and wellness staff. The program is designed to help those affected by cancer gain strength, endurance and function lost through treatment and to gain emotional support and self esteem.
Over the years we've been in business, we've donated our time to many great projects - but the most moving have been the Survivor stories that we have captured. It's a special thing to bare witness to the strength these Survivors demonstrate and for them to share that struggle on camera with the world. In our community, many cancer survivors are fighters. And those that aren't fighters can become fighters because they have the strength and support of our community, of their caregivers and, most importantly, of fellow Survivors. The LIVESTRONG program at the Southington YMCA "focus[es] on the whole person not just the disease. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA helps cancer survivors move beyond illness to wellness in spirit mind and body." And that's something we definitely get behind and support.
The YMCA is able to make this program free of charge because of the generous contributions of donors.
To support LIVESTRONG at the Southington YMCA
contact Linda Prus at (860) 426-9531 or at [email protected]
To watch an excerpt of Miceli Productions 2009 Relay For Life film on The Power of Community CLICK HERE or to find out more ways you can support cancer survivors go to 2012 Southington Relay For Life or find a LIVESTRONG event near you.
Images by Miceli Productions
