Asst. Prof. Cristina Caperchione, left, and research assistant Marianne Clark
Small grants available for participants who get friends into an exercise program
Researchers at UBC Okanagan’s campus are looking for female breast cancer survivors who are ready to adopt a regular exercise program – and include their friends – for post-cancer rehabilitation.
Cristina Caperchione is leading ProjectMOVE, a research initiative investigating increased physical activity among female breast cancer survivors after treatments. Caperchione is looking for study participants who are ready to get active and do so with a group of friends.
Caperchione, an assistant professor with UBC’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences, has received a $199,780 Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute grant to examine how survivors become motivated to increase their physical activity. Increasing and maintaining an active lifestyle during stages of cancer can be beneficial to maintain daily physical functioning, improve quality of life and provide an outlet for social support, she explains.
“ProjectMOVE is about empowerment and ownership, providing these women with the opportunity to optimise their own strengths and knowledge and at the same time reduce health concerns that come up post breast-cancer treatment,” says Caperchione. “We know part of a successful recovery is to include physical activity in a regular routine as it can help improve all aspects of one’s health.”
As an added incentive, groups of eight to 12 female friends, neighbours, or work colleagues can apply to ProjectMOVE for a micro grant and receive up to $2,000. The grant can be used for training, equipment, or to hire an exercise instructor.
“Our goal is to make physical activity more accessible, and enjoyable for female breast-cancer survivors living in the Okanagan region,” says Caperchione.
The exercise can vary. Examples are group activities such as cycling, walking, hiking, yoga classes, swim lessons, or fitness sessions like a bootcamp or Zumba classes. The goal is for exercise to be sustainable, so participants will continue their program on a regular basis.
For more information about the research and how to get involved, contact ProjectMOVE at 250-807-9907 or Marianne Clark, postdoctoral research fellow, at marianne.clark@ubc.ca.
Micro-grant applications are available June 1 at www.projectmove.ca.
Asst. Prof. Cristina Caperchione, left, and research assistant Marianne Clark are encouraging female breast cancer survivors to get a group of friends involved in a sustainable exercise program.
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