Father’s Day Craft – AYAs
Let’s make a Father’s Day craft together virtually. Come prepared with a few pieces of paper and colored pencils.
Game Night – AYAs
Catch up with fellow 13thirty members at the next game night. Let’s have another night full of laughs!
Cancer + Careers
People around the country are feeling the impact of COVID-19 on their careers. This may mean lay-offs for some and new working conditions for others. For those living with cancer, going back to the workplace or looking for a new job can be scarier than ever before. Many fear job security or a lack of opportunities, but AYAs living with cancer also fear the health risk of going back to the workplace or being able to find a safe job. As a vulnerable population, those living with cancer may experience these crisis-caused challenges and need the help of some career resources.
Cancer + Careers Resources
Cancer + Careers helps those living with cancer become empowered in the workplace via online, print, and in-person resources. From the point of diagnosis, Cancer + Careers can help you navigate the legal and financial implications of cancer treatment. They even provide resources for helping coworkers become a support system.
Cancer + Careers offers resources specific to the COVID-19 crisis such as workshops, webinars and available financial resources. If you’re searching for a new position, look into their tips on interviewing and use their resume review service. While we’re still in quarantine, take some time to view their videos on balancing work and cancer or read some of their free publications on working with cancer.
Let’s keep our communities safe and continue to follow our local and state guidelines. For those in good health and returning to work, please be mindful of the challenges that AYAs may be facing due to this pandemic and remember to wash hands regularly and social distance to protect one another. Please read the CDC’s guidance for safe practices when returning to the workforce.
Virtual Connections
Over the past six weeks, 13thirty Cancer Connect has been dedicated to creating virtual connections between both our Rochester and Syracuse AYA members. We know how difficult social distancing is for everyone, especially those who have been in isolation in the past to protect their health. We will continue to try our best at keeping our AYAs in touch and active with virtual programs until social distancing guidelines are updated. Here’s a look back on the month of April’s virtual programs.
April’s Virtual Programs
We started out with a check-in “Family Dinner” to see how everyone was doing with making adjustments to the new at-home world. It was a great chance for some of our Rochester and Syracuse members to meet. We tried our first virtual attempt at our group “power clap” tradition and we left room for improvement…
We caught up with some of our teens with a Family Feud game night with our game show host, Program Director, Steve Esposito. A competitive game between our Rochester and Syracuse teams left the score tight, but Syracuse took the win in the last round!
Our young adults joined us for a happy hour and game of “guess who” that led to lots of laughs as our members asked twenty questions trying to guess which person or character they were while getting to know each other better.
Keeping in mind that gyms are closed, we offered a workout program with our Syracuse trainer, Michelle. Her 13 workouts in 30 minutes was just what we needed!
Finally, we wrapped up the month with a Netflix Party where we watched The Fundamentals of Caring followed by a Zoom chat to discuss the film that included some special appearances from our members’ pets.
Hopefully our traditional power clap at the end of programs continues to improve! Check out the May Calendar on both the Rochester and Syracuse program pages. RSVP with Megan or Steve today!
13thirty Fit!
Rochester Program – AYAs – Continue our 8-week fitness program and getting strong together!
Serving Others
Rochester Program – AYAs – We will team up with the Dorothy Day House to volunteer and serve dinner at the St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality.
Noodle Night
Syracuse Program – AYAs and Parents – Make your own healthy bowl of ramen noodle soup with fresh ingredients. All food provided, just bring an appetite! Cooking instruction will be led by Dr. Kaushal Nanavati from Upstate University Hospital.
13thirty Fit!
Rochester Program – AYAs
Continue our 8-week fitness program and getting strong together!
13thirty Fit!
Rochester Program – AYAs – Continue our 8-week fitness program and getting strong together!
13thirty Fit!
Program of the Month
13thirty Fit!
Every Wednesday for the last four weeks, parents of our teens and young adults have met at our Syracuse center for 13thirty Fit!, an eight-week program designed to help develop healthy workout habits easy enough to do at home without expensive equipment or gym fees. The program, led by our oncology-certified fitness coach, Michelle Dougan, from Elevate Fitness, includes personal goal setting and an hour-long workout each week. Everyone’s favorite songs from the 80’s keep us moving!
On our third week, we shook things up in Syracuse and invited parents to bring their kids to the program that night. Partner workouts proved to be just as challenging and even more fun than our usual workout routines. A little friendly competition between our parents and kids made us try even harder! Like all 13thirty Cancer Connect programs, peer support is an important element of our fitness programs. Working out with someone can motivate you to work out more often and stay accountable to your goals.
13thirty Fit! History
13thirty Fit! has been offered at our Rochester center to AYA members and parents since 2012 when it was first designed as part of a research study at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. The goal was simple and still the same: help AYAs regain their former level of fitness and self-confidence in a safe, judgement-free environment. In both Rochester and Syracuse, 13thirty Fit! is held in our warm, comfortable center with friends who understand what it’s like and fitness coaches who can modify exercises to accommodate individual needs.
Assessment data collected from participants before and after each program consistently point to improved functional fitness and enhanced self-efficacy. Periodic “Quick Fit” sessions held throughout the year supplement the eight-week program and help remind members to keep working on their fitness goals.
Work out with us again!
Remember, the Syracuse fitness room is available for individual workouts during regular office hours for both AYAs and parents! Just bring your signed medical release form and call Megan ahead of time at (315) 883-1862. Here’s how to find us! Find out what else is going on in Syracuse here.
Interested in 13thirty Fit! – Rochester? Contact Rochester Program Director, Steve Esposito, for more information at 595-563-6221 or visit us!