It’s going to be busy at the Calgary Climbing Centre, where two new projects have set up ‘home’ !
Here’s how Kids Cancer Care (KCC) presented themselves and their Paediatric cancer patients and survivors Engaging in Exercise for Recovery (PEER) project to us:
“KCC is located in Alberta, Canada, where 237 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Many physiological, psychological, and social challenges arise in childhood cancer journeys. Research demonstrated that physical activity is a great tool to counteract many side effects from cancer and its treatment and thus we created the PEER program. PEER stands for Pediatric cancer patients and survivors Engaging in Exercise for Recovery. PEER is one of the many program we have to offer at Kids Cancer Care. The PEER exercise program helps kids to rebuild their strength, balance, cardiovascular capacity, physical literacy meanwhile having fun and meeting other children/teens and families going through pediatric cancer. The PEER program not only enables children affected by cancer to improve their fitness level and conditioning. It is so much more. PEER uses physical activity to engage children and youth in social interactions, improving mental health and wellbeing, promoting an active lifestyle and reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions. Research also associates physical activity with the improvement of brain health and academic achievement. PEER is committed to motivating children and teens affected by cancer and their families to stay active. The program enables children, youth and their families to use physical activity as a way to reduce the side effects of cancer and its treatment (e.g. brain fog, low bone density and increased risk of fracture(s), low cardiopulmonary capacity and fatigue, isolation and depression, decreased muscles mass, impaired balance and increased risk of fall). In summary, PEER offers children and youth the chance to be kids amidst their cancer journeys.”
What’s not to love? PEER is one of several grant applications that fit the wider scope CAC has now adopted, whereby we fund not only research but also projects that help patients live with and beyond cancer. The teens climbing programme will serve as a pilot for standardising and scaling a series of teens-cancer-climbing programs that can be implemented elsewhere in Canada and abroad.
This prospect greatly enhances the potential widespread impact and ‘return on investment’ for CAC in funding the initiative.
The primary objective of the second project, Young Adult Climb Nights, which is run by Wellspring Alberta, is to bring young adults together to foster social connections, providing them with a sense of community and support during their cancer journey.
The target audience for this project is young adults facing cancer (age 18-39). The aim is to provide them with a supportive environment where they can experience the benefits of social interaction, reduce feelings of loneliness, improve their overall well-being, and engage in physical activity through climbing. All skill levels are welcome, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for individuals regardless of their familiarity with the sport.
Additionally, the programme is free of charge for young adults facing cancer, removing financial barriers to participation and making it accessible to all who may benefit from it. YA Climb Night will run twice monthly for 2.5 hours each in Calgary and once a month for 2.5 hours in Edmonton. Equipment will be provided by the Calgary Climbing Centre itself, including a discounted rate for Wellspring members. Once that partnership is solidified in Edmonton, they hope to secure a similar in-kind donation there as well. In Calgary, the programme has been running for 2 years and is ready to expand to twice monthly, with the extra funding provided by CAC.
The expansion to Edmonton requires the development of relationships and partnerships before its launch. However, through engagement with Wellspring members, conducting community needs surveys, and establishing connections with institutions like the University of Alberta and Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC), Wellspring have identified a clear need for this programme, as a complement to existing young adult cancer support services in Edmonton.
