Muscatine, Iowa (January 28, 2019) — Beginning in March 2019, Gilda’s Club Quad Cities is launching an 8-Week Mind, Body, Spirit Challenge to help people diagnosed with cancer, including those undergoing treatment and caregivers, to improve quality of life by better managing the stress of diagnosis and treatment.
“With the high rate of late stage cancer diagnosis in Muscatine and the growing number of Muscatine residents that our staff meets via outreach at local cancer centers, we believe psychosocial support services are needed directly in Muscatine,” explained Program Director Kelly Hendershot. “We are very excited to utilize these grant funds to further our mission in Muscatine.”
The 8-Week Mind, Body, Spirit Challenge will be held in March and April of 2019. Attendance at four activities earns the enrolled participant a t-shirt, while participation at all eight earns the enrolled participant a t-shirt and a Gilda’s Club tumbler.
Enrolling participants — patients, survivors and caregivers — will also complete a pre- and post-challenge CancerSupportSource™ (CSS) questionnaires that measures distress. The questionnaires can be completed online at home or on paper at the events and take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. For cancer patients and survivors, the questionnaire is available in Spanish as well.
In fact, to better meet the needs of the community in Muscatine, all promotional material will be available in Spanish. Interpreters from Translations Unlimited (Davenport), will also be present at all events.
For full challenge details, including enrolling, please visitwww.gildasclubqc.org/muscatinechallenge . Challenge specifics are available on this page both in English and in Spanish. The eight challenge activities include:
- Cancer Support Group: Support group for adults with any type of cancer diagnosis. Members share thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Caregivers are invited to attend as well. Facilitated by Maria Ricaurte Romza, LISW. Held 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6-8 PM at First Presbyterian Church (401 Iowa Avenue) in the 2nd floor Gathering Room. Please use the 4th Street entrance. Note: Attending multiple Cancer Support Groups only counts as one challenge activity.
- Chair Yoga: Get Fit Where You Sit™ by adapting traditional yoga poses to a chair. LVCYT. Chair yoga sessions are tailored for cancer patients in treatment, cancer survivors/those that have completed treatment, and individuals that provide cancer care to a loved one. Held on Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:30 AM at the ISU Extension Office (1514 Isett Avenue). Note: Attending multiple Cancer Support Groups only counts as one challenge activity.
- Stress Management Workshop: Kelly Hendershot, LMSW will facilitate a workshop about managing stress. Learn about what causes us to stress and some stress-busting tips. This workshop will also be broadcast via Facebook Live and childcare will be available to attendees who preregister. Saturday, March 2, 1-3 PM at Flickinger Learning Center (413 Mulberry Ave)
- Meditation Workshop: Allison Castle, Holistic Health Coach, will lead participants through some meditation and give tips on how to integrate meditation into our daily lives. Monday, March 11, 6:30-8 PM at First Presbyterian Church (401 Iowa Avenue) in the 2nd floor Gathering Room. Please use the 4th Street entrance.
- Creative Session: Air-Dry Clay: QCA artist Brian Allen will lead us in an air-dry clay project. Air dry clay is clay that cures at room temperature instead of needing to go into a kiln. Living Proof Exhibit Creative Sessions receive support from UnityPoint Health — Trinity, Komen Greater Iowa, and the Pink Pajama Party. Thursday, March 14, 5:30-7:30 PM at the Muscatine Art Center (1314 Mulberry Ave.)
- Nutritional Workshop – Cutting Sugar: Allison Castle, Holistic Health Coach, will talk about the benefits of cutting sugar from our diets and tips on how to lower the amount of sugar we consume. Monday, April 8, 6:30-8 PM at First Presbyterian Church (401 Iowa Avenue) in the 2nd floor Gathering Room. Please use the 4th Street entrance.
- Tai-Chi/Lymphedema Workshop: Lymphedema impacts many cancer patients, especially those who have lymph nodes removed. It is most commonly associated with breast cancer but does affect both men and women. Caleen Pagel, Physical Therapist, will present on the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of lymphedema. She will also talk about risk reduction strategies and treatment interventions. Pagel will also discuss how Tai Chi can reduce stress and help drain the lymphatic system. Participants are encouraged to join in a short Tai Chai exercise. Monday, April 22, 6-7:30 PM at Musser Public Library (408 E 2nd Street)
- Gilda’s Annual Run for Laughs: Participants of the Challenge may receive free registration for our annual Gilda’s Run for Laughs on Saturday, April 27 in The District of Rock Island.
This program is made possible by the Iowa Cancer Consortium and the Iowa Department of Public Health. The Iowa Cancer Consortium is a partnership of health care providers, public health professionals, caregivers, researchers, cancer survivors, volunteers, and many other Iowans who work together to reduce the burden of cancer in Iowa.
To learn more about this program or to register to participate, contact Kelly Craft, 563-326-7504, kcraft@gildasclubqc.org.
About Gilda’s Club
Free of charge, Gilda’s Club Quad Cities provides support, education and hope to all people affected by cancer. As a Cancer Support Community affiliate, we are part of the largest employer of psychosocial oncology mental health professionals in the United States. Our global network brings the highest quality cancer support to the millions of people touched by cancer.
