Annual LIVESTRONG Luncheon Raises $45,000 for Cancer Survivors
Saratoga Springs, NY – The Saratoga Regional YMCA is overflowing with gratitude. At this year's Annual LIVESTRONG Luncheon, more than 200 guests came together in a powerful show of community spirit — and together, they raised $45,000 to support cancer survivors right here in our region. That's an incredible $11,000 increase over last year, and a testament to just how much this community cares.
The energy in the room was palpable. Guests gathered to celebrate the survivors who have walked through our doors, the coaches and staff who walk alongside them, and the vision of a community where no one faces cancer alone.
Sandy's Story: A Reminder of Why We Do This
This year's guest speaker was Sandy, a LIVESTRONG at the YMCA participant whose story moved the room. Sandy's journey with cancer was not an easy one. She lost her best friend of 40 years, Barb, to cancer — a loss that still weighs on her heart — and then faced her own diagnosis: lung cancer, followed by the removal of her right lung and 12 weeks of chemotherapy.
When LIVESTRONG was first offered to her, Sandy declined. She wasn't ready — physically or emotionally. But the second time she was asked, she said yes. And it changed everything.
"LIVESTRONG has given me back a life," Sandy shared. "It didn't bring back my old life, and it didn't bring my best friend Barb back. But it gave me a new life. A strong life. An empowering life. An 'I can do it' life. A happy life once again."
Sandy's words reminded every person in that room why events like this luncheon matter so deeply.
This Year's Honorees
LIVESTRONG Hero Award — Shannon Van Hall
This year's LIVESTRONG Hero Award was presented to Shannon Van Hall, one of our dedicated LIVESTRONG coaches. Shannon has touched the lives of so many of the cancer survivors who have come through our program — showing up with patience, encouragement, and heart, session after session. Her commitment to this work goes far beyond the gym floor, and we are so proud to recognize the difference she makes in the lives of our participants every single day. Shannon is exactly the kind of person that makes LIVESTRONG at the YMCA what it is.
Partner of Hope Award — Goldman Sachs Ayco
The second award of the evening was presented to Goldman Sachs Ayco in celebration of their unwavering dedication and generosity to LIVESTRONG at the YMCA and to the cancer survivors whose lives the program touches. Their support has made it possible for us to continue offering this life-changing program, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership and commitment to our community.
The Power of Your Support
In her remarks, Tammy Ogsbury, Event Committee Co-Chair, LIVESTRONG participant, and mentor captured the heart of the afternoon beautifully:
"Because of the community's support, we are doing more than raising money. We are reminding people with a cancer diagnosis that they are not alone and we are helping them regain their power."
It costs approximately $1,100 to put one survivor through the LIVESTRONG program — a cost that includes a four-month Y membership for both the participant and their family or support team while they are enrolled. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and event guests, we are able to offer this program completely free of charge to every survivor who walks through our doors.
About LIVESTRONG at the YMCA
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free, research-based physical activity and wellness program designed to help adult cancer survivors (18+) reclaim their health, rebuild their strength, and reconnect with a community that understands the journey. Led by specially trained Y instructors, the program focuses on the whole person — not just the disease — through strength training, cardiovascular endurance, balance, and a deeply supportive group environment.
Since launching the program in 2013, the Saratoga Regional YMCA has served hundreds of cancer survivors across our region, helping each one move beyond cancer in spirit, mind, and body.
We are proud to now offer the program four times a year — in January, March, June, and September — with both daytime and evening/weekend options available to fit different schedules and needs. We stagger which branches run the program throughout the year, and every branch runs the program at least once annually, so no matter where you are in our community, LIVESTRONG is accessible to you.
LIVESTRONG and Beyond
The connection doesn't have to end when the 12 weeks are up. Our LIVESTRONG and Beyond program gives program alumni — our warriors — a way to stay connected, stay active, and keep thriving. We come together for group fitness classes, ice cream socials, hiking adventures, potlucks, informational seminars, and more throughout the year. We are currently working to expand these offerings even further, because this community is too special to let go.
Thank You
To every sponsor, donor, guest, LIVESTRONG participant, coach, and mentor who joined us at this year's luncheon — thank you. You are the reason cancer survivors in our community have a place to come, a team to lean on, and a life to reclaim.
To learn more about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA or to register for an upcoming session, please visit SRYMCA.org or contact Tara Westervelt, Healthy Living Coordinator, at tara.westervelt@srymca.org or 518-583-9622, ext. 161.