A charity bike ride for cancer research that overnighted at your Y in 2019 has resulted in a series of professionally produced videos for those who have undergone cancer treatment.
The bikers, students from the University of Texas at Austin, rode 4000 miles from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska, to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Dubbed the Texas 4000, the event is the longest annual charity bike ride in the world.
Their stop in Eugene inspired the group to invite the Y to apply for a grant, initially to support an expansion of the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program, our 12-week evidence-based exercise program to help survivors improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships and improve their quality of life. The LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program carries a waitlist of as many as 40 people. The group remains small due to facility space restrictions--a total of 12 people for each 12-week session to offer individualized attention based on specific cancer-related conditions and to allow the group to develop the relationships necessary to combat depression and anxiety.
COVID-19 derailed the entire LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program--- even with masks, physical distance and sanitization, people undergoing or having just completed cancer treatment needed to isolate to protect themselves.
"Isolation and loneliness come with going through cancer surgery, treatment and recovery and we know how important this program has been to cancer survivors in the community," says Colleen Hogan, Program Coordinator for the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. " It was heartbreaking to have to tell people we couldn't offer the program during the shutdown. Cancer didn't stop during the pandemic and loneliness didn't stop--- isolation and loneliness only got worse."
The $10,000 grant from Texas 4000 organization allows your Y to reach out to cancer survivors and alumni of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA in a brand-new way.
A series of 6 videos covering lymphedema, range of motion and balance, cardio and strength training, and meditation provides visual and verbal cues as well as modifications depending on the level of fitness.
"This video series is a gift to our community and the world at large," says Colleen. "We looked at what we do in the 12-week program and we wanted to make sure we met all of those same milestones in a video series. We also focused on people coming here from different levels and different stages of recovery."
The Turell Group, a marketing, digital and communications agency based in Eugene, generously donated video production and editing services to match the grant funds making this series possible. Their expertise meant that Y staff could focus on what they do best: explaining to cancer survivors the movements, the science and evidence behind the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program and the "Start Low and Go Slow" motto to prevent injuries.
The videos--- called RECLAIM Cancer Exercise series--- will be released in the coming weeks HERE. Expanded In-Person Classes, Personal Training Offers Many More Fitness Opportunities
Your Y's Health & Wellness staff can't wait to see you in one of our in-person classes (by reservation only) in the Outdoor Studio or in the Movement Center. Next week try Adult Aikido, Core Pilates, Strong & Balanced, Cardio Dance, Strength & Stretch, Boot Camp, RIPPED, Y Sculpt, Cardio Strength, Zumba, PiYo or a host of yoga classes, including Gentle, Hatha, Flow, Yin and Kundalini. Coy is introducing a Core & Stretch class on Wednesdays at noon and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Schedules and reservations are HERE.
Also, Certified Wellness Coaches will be able to work with you one-on-one to help set your health goals, and answer questions in an Initial Appointment, get your set with a Personalized Program or update your old routine. Sign up at the Welcome Center.
Y Tennis Players, Grab Your Rackets for Expanded Hours and Evening Games!
Competitive singles tennis players are invited to a court rotation game that challenges all levels. Starting Tuesday, April 13, 12 tennis players can catch this fun game on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Advanced registration is required. Members can sign-up through their
Sign-ups begin 7 days in advance starting at 7 a.m. Non-members can sign-up 2 days in advance by calling the Tennis Center.
Expanded Tennis Center hours:
Monday, Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 12 to 6 p.m.
Parent-Child Swim Lessons: Save the Date!
Our 2 parent-child swim classes in the small pool are full for April, but registration for the May series opens April 26. Save the date!
Class size is limited to 5 parent-child pairs. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 5:30 p.m. or 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. This is such an important way to introduce children to the water and set them on a path to safety around water.
Spend Quality Time with Your Kiddos in the Small Pool!
We are thrilled to invite you for some water play with your kiddos in our small pool! Or perhaps you are an individual water exerciser seeking some warm water for mindful movement?
The Y's small pool is now available for 30-minute reservations:
Mondays: 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. & 3 to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. & 3 to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. & 3 to 5 p.m.
Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. & 3 to 6:30 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. & 3 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The small pool will be divided in half so that 2 family groups can use the pool at the same time with physical distance between the groups. Each family group can have a maximum of 4 people in each group.
Register HERE 72 hours in advance. Youth Soccer Safely Returns, Basketball Expected for Fall
Your Y's K-5th grade soccer program this May for Creswell and Pleasant Hill marks the return of youth sports after one full year.
"I am simply thrilled that the Y is able to return to what we know and love: encouraging kids to be physically active, playing as a team and being a good sport," says Youth Sports Director Robbie Petetit. "This is your Y's 27th season of providing sports programs in Creswell and Pleasant Hill, underscoring our commitment to all of Lane County."
The global pandemic continues to impact contact sports, such as basketball, so in an effort to support efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19, your Y is suspending basketball leagues and Itty-Bitty clinics this spring. Once more adults are vaccinated, these programs will resume in the fall.
That doesn't mean you can't shoot hoops at the Y! One-hour hoop reservations for up to 4 people are available each day on 3 baskets in the south ½ of our gym. Please wear your mask and remain six feet apart. Current members can make reservations up to 3 days in advance and others can use the hoops if reservations are not full.
Happy Holi!
Your Y's commitment to diversity, inclusion and global engagement includes teaching our youth about other cultures, holidays and traditions. This year, Pre-K Plus students and teachers learned from Y staff Jaskiran about Holi, known as the festival of colors. It is the second biggest festival on the Hindu calendar after Diwali.
The festival is all about new beginnings and provides a welcome to spring. It was celebrated on March 28 and 29.
Learn more about your Y's Diversity, Inclusion and Global Engagement Initiative HERE. Follow This Recipe for Healthy Kids!
Join us for a virtual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, May 22, when we'll include all the ingredients for a Healthy Kid!
During Healthy Kids Day, children and families will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of healthy eating, nutrition and physical activity, mental and emotional well-being, and developing healthy habits.
This year, since we can't hold our typical outdoor community event, we are bringing Healthy Kids Day to you!
Teacher Ms. Melissa will bring a live virtual story time with the book, Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by author Jacqueline Martin.
Y Fitness Instructor Lisa Milton will get kids moving to music with her fun Family Dance Party online. Then the whole family is invited to cook a delicious spring fruit pizza. What: Virtual Healthy Kids Day featuring story time, Family Dance Party & opportunity to cook fruit pizza as a family
When: Saturday, May 22
Time: 10:30-10:45 a.m. story time, 11:00-11:30 a.m. Dance Party, and afterwards an opportunity to make a delicious lunch together.
Your Y Meets the Need for Red Cross Classes
Precautions related to COVID-19 halted or delayed Red Cross certification classes across the country. As an important provider of these classes, your Y plans to reinstate Red Cross trainings in high demand.
These include:
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Lifeguard certification
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Lifeguard recertification
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Lifeguard instructor certification
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CPR/First Aid and AED certification
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Babysitting certification
Red Cross classes include online and in-person components (except for babysitting, which is solely in-person). In-person sections will be held inside the Y with limited class sizes to accommodate physical distancing requirements. Students will complete a health screening that includes a temperature check and masks are required.
If you are seeking a Red Cross class, please email [email protected] with your name and class type. Your Y Addresses Food Insecurities Due to COVID-19, Wildfires
A $15,000 grant from Y-USA is helping your Y address food scarcity.
The money is being used to build and install Little Free Pantries in 3 food deserts in south Eugene as well as provide snacks for residents who lost their homes in the Holiday Farm fire up the McKenzie River Corridor.
"This grant funding provides critical hunger relief for vulnerable populations," says Amber Alexander, Youth Development Office Coordinator. "COVID-19 and the devastating wildfires have meant more people are experiencing food insecurity. The Y helps many of these families with child care and membership financial assistance, but we want to make an immediate impact to address empty bellies." The three Little Free Pantries will be placed in locations recommended by the nonprofit Burrito Brigade based upon their research about regions in south Eugene without easily accessible food. The Y will keep the pantries stocked until August, when Burrito Brigade maintains stocking the 3-shelf unit with food and nonperishable goods.
In addition, your Y has teamed up with Homes for Good to fill in gaps between meals for the 62 adults and 30 children living at the Red Lion Inn, where families displaced by the McKenzie River wildfire have been living. Meals have been provided.
Twice a month, your Y delivers more than 300 pounds of healthy snack food, which means that families can focus on rebuilding their lives and keeping their children healthy instead of worrying about how to access food.
"This year has been trying for everyone, but for those with food insecurities, it has been simply devastating," Amber says. "We are thrilled Y-USA recognized the deep needs in our community so that we can support people when and where they need it most."
Child Abuse Prevention Month Highlights New System to Further Protect Children at Your Y
The development of children is the core of which the Y's values were built. This is why the safety of all children in our care is our number one priority. Staff and volunteers at your Y follow our Code of Conduct to ensure the safety of all children who come through our doors, whether they're regular program participants or only visit once a year. During Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Y wants to ensure that all members understand this Code of Conduct. A key tool in abuse prevention is knowledge, so it's important that parents and caregivers are informed of the Y's policies around children. Together we can work to ensure all children at the Eugene Family YMCA reach their full potential.
Read the Code of Conduct HERE.
In addition to our Code of Conduct, the Y also has a number of safety measures intended to keep kids safe. This includes criminal background checks on staff and volunteers; required staff training on recognizing and preventing abuse; prohibiting staff/volunteers from being alone with a child where they cannot be observed by others; limiting staff contact with children outside of Y programs; and reporting any allegations or suspicions of abuse to law enforcement.
To further protect children at our Y, we have partnered with Raptor to screen members, guest pass users, multipass users, and visitors against the National Sex Offender database. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA revokes membership and facility use, ends program participation and removes visitation access.
Raptor requires a government-issued photo ID or a legal name, birthdate and address. The process takes less than a minute.
Thank you for helping us protect children in our care and in our facility. It is everyone's job to prevent abuse and ensure that every child reaches their full potential!
Best Summer Ever at your Y
Prepare for a summer filled with fun! Your Y is bringing its high-energy games, creative approach and focus on inspiring opportunities to explore and discover to reimagined camps for this 2021 season.
Save these upcoming registration dates to secure camps for your kiddos:
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April 26-30: Currently registered families
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May 3-7: Families registered in youth development programs in February 2020
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May 10 and beyond: All families
Expanded Child Care Options for School Age Kids
Families enrolled in after school programs can register for additional days beyond their scheduled school days!
For more information, click
HERE.
Reminder: High School Starting Affects Parking
South Eugene High School will resume in-person school on Monday, April 12. Y members must park in the Y-designated parking spots (painted on the asphalt with a Y-logo) only. These parking spots all face Patterson, and are located in both the North & South portion of the big student parking lot. You are not required to have a blue-parking pass for these spots.
If those spots are full, park in the Y's parking lot (north of the Tennis Center) or on a nearby street.
Thank you for helping us be a good neighbor to South Eugene High School!
Free 3-month passes for PeaceHealth Rides Bikes
Thanks to PeaceHealth, your Y is offering free 3-month passes to PeaceHealth Rides bikes--- those blue community bikes available in dozens of places throughout Eugene!
The first 250 people to activate the code 3MONTHS4FREE before April 18, 2021 receive the benefit!
PLEASE NOTE: The code won't work after 250 people redeem the code.
In order to receive your free 3-month pass you must:
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Log on HERE to register for this special PeaceHealth Rides three-month pass registration site:
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Enter your information and create a password and pin.
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Read and agree to the Rental Agreement and Liability Waiver.
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Enter this promo code: 3Months4Free for a $45 credit.
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Finalize your membership with a personal credit/debit card for incidental fees.
Your Y reminds you to protect your brain and wear a helmet!
Parent Cafes Help Parents Find Support
Parent Cafes are opportunities for parents and caregivers to come together in a safe space to explore their strengths and challenges. Parent Cafes are run by 90by30, a community-campus partnership dedicated to reducing child abuse in Lane County 90 percent by 2030.
Click on a date below to register for the virtual café, where you can come together to talk, listen and support others who share similar successes and struggles. Parenting is hard! There is no need to go it alone!
Lead By Example. Give Blood By Taking Part In Our Virtual Drive!
In partnership with Bloodworks Northwest, your Y urges you to give blood because it takes 800 donors a day to sustain a blood supply for patients in our community. Between April 11 and 24, we invite you to sign-up for a one-hour donation appointment:
Step 1: Schedule an appointment to donate HERE. Choose between two locations (both locations are not available every day):
Holiday Inn Express: 919 Kruse Way in Springfield
Lane Bloodworks Blood Center: 2211 Willamette St. in Eugene
Step 2: On the day of your donation mention YMCA Eugene or our four-digit code "YMCA" when you check in with the registrar.
Join with other members of our Y family and help our community by donating blood!
For more information, please click HERE. Thank you Heritage Distillery for providing hand sanitizer to your Y
In response to the need for hand sanitizer, Heritage Distillery Co. in the Pacific Northwest has been producing hand sanitizer to Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization specifications throughout the COVID pandemic. Knowing that your Y serves people of all ages, health backgrounds and need for physical and mental health outlets, Heritage Distillery in Eugene donated 60 cases of hand sanitizer valued at $4,500.
Thank you, Heritage Distillery, for helping your Y keep our community's hands sanitized!
Heard Around Town
CEO Brian Steffen's retrospective of the Y during a global pandemic landed on the Opinion pages of The Register-Guard. "Yes, the YMCA in March 2021 looks different than it did in March 2020. However, we stand here at the crossroads of history with wisdom, not weakness...
This anniversary marks a milestone for our YMCA and community. When we closed the doors at 2:30 p.m. one year ago, we did not realize what would be different about us when we re-opened.
While I have sorrow for many of the changes and challenges, I also have hope, optimism and confidence.
The future of your community Y is bright, not despite the challenges of the past 12 months, rather, because of the challenges of the past year. "
Read the entire column HERE. Thank you Matt Denis and The Register-Guard for picking our Fitness Adventure as one of Matt's Picks of the Week! We are thrilled that our adventurers are tracking their swim, hike, bike, run or yoga progress across Oregon for the next 6 months!
"The Eugene Family YMCA is inviting folks to get inspired by Oregon's natural beauty and to dive into fitness with its six-month Fitness Adventure challenge...Even though there are lots of trails and swimming holes, it may be too cold or too inconvenient to rack up all of these miles outside, so the Y encourages challengers to get laps, reps and miles in at its University of Oregon-area gym."
Learn about the Fitness Adventure HERE. Your Y's Health and Wellness Director Kim Miller shares how to give your poor feet a break in the latest Northwest 50 Plus! "With 26 bones, 30 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, it's
no surprise that 80 percent of Americans report foot pain at some point in their
lives. From plantar fasciitis and shin splints to blisters and bunions, foot injuries can
significantly impact our overall health.
Our feet do a lot: they are crucial for shock absorption, balance and general mobility. Beyond caring for your feet on the surface by keeping them clean and free of cuts and abrasions, there are steps you can take to keep your feet healthy and strong. And yes: strength is important. Your feet are designed to take the impact of movement. When you walk, your feet absorb the impact force of 150 percent of your body weight!"
Kim outlines 4 ways to care for yourself from the ground up in the story. Check it out HERE.
