Shedding Light on Cancer | Video

Amy Fox | 9/18/2012

"I was shocked, it wasn`t anything that was on my bucket list to do," said Prace Ramsdell, cancer patient.

Thirteen months ago, Prace Ramsdell was diagnosed with cancer.
"After loosing about 35 pounds and weak...”

That`s when his doctors introduced him to the Trinity Health Cancer Rehab Exercise program at Minot`s YMCA.

"The idea behind the program is to help patients relieve the fatigue that they`re having or increase their strength because a lot of times when you`re on treatment, it really brings you down,” said Trinity Health Exercise Physiology Coordinator Russel Gust.

Throughout the 12 week program, cancer patients, like Ramsdell, work with a personal trainer in a small group setting.

"This program focuses on strength training and cardio training,” explains Gust. “The goal is to help them just feel better and to be able to the things that they need to do and they like to do."

"The first time I come in here, I did the push like this and I thought I did pretty good cause he told me I am supposed to do over 10, less than 20, and I made it to 18, so I thought I did pretty good until I looked over to see the weight was 25 pounds," said Ramsdell.

While at the Y, the cancer patients are working out to benefit their physical and mental health, but as Gust explains, they`re gaining a lot more than just a daily dose of exercise, they`re creating friendships that will last a lifetime.

"Today, I have one couple of ladies that met here in the program and they`re really good friends now and they hang out on a regular basis."

It`s a program empowering patients, like Ramsdell, battle cancer.

"I feel great and I think a lot of feeling good fast is this program.”

Ramsdell looks ahead to beginning a new chapter in his life, cancer free that his.

The program is funded by the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign and Minot Y`s Men`s Rodeo.

In the last five years, the organization has raised more than 247-thousand dollars for the program.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO MINOT STORIES