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YOUR STORY AT MemberEngage@GoldsboroYMCA.org

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER

GOLDSBORO FAMILY YMCA

1105 Parkway Dr, Goldsboro NC 27534

October/November 2015

www.GoldsboroYMCA.org | 919.778.8557

I was 24 years old with a newborn baby and my husband was getting ready to leave for training after joining the United States Air Force. We were mixed with feelings of excitement, sadness, and curiosity about the next step in our life. I was now juggling mommy-hood, college and life in general.

As I was getting ready for Cambria’s first birthday party, I looked down and noticed that this little cyst was now as big as my actual breast (I was an A cup so it didn’t take much!). I called my OB-GYN back and made an appointment. The surgeon found it and stuck a syringe in to drain the cyst. Nothing came out. She immediately put me under the ultrasound machine and asked me if I had any family that could meet me here. Immediately my heart started to race, my body went numb and my mind went to the worst places. She explained to me that a biopsy was in order and what exactly that meant. With my husband finally by my side, we heard the news we were dreading. I have cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on January 6, 2012. Two days before we were moving from Michigan to Goldsboro, NC to report to our very first base.

I was very nervous to move to a new city and I was mostly worried about going to doctors that I had never heard of! I was thankfully blessed with great care and wonderful people surrounding me. I felt myself starting to grow in my faith and soon became a Christian. As my faith grew and the news started to sink in, I decided there had to be a purpose for my pain. I was shortly re-diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, less than a year after my original diagnosis. I have fought cancer a total of four times, and am currently fighting my fifth battle. My fourth battle taught me the most. With over 50 tumors in my brain, as well as cancer in my spine, bones, sacrum, pelvis, both eyes, and adrenal glands, I was bound to a wheel chair from pain and weakness. They treated my brain first and rightbefore a treatment one day, I passed out. My heart stopped and UNC called a code blue. They drained 650mL of fluid from my heart and revived me. I slowly began to recover and regained my strength while going through (continued on next page)

IN THIS ISSUE• THE FABULOUS FIGHT

• DATES TO REMEMBER

• NUTRITION CLASS

• SUPER FOODS

• SENIOR TRIP

• MOBILE APP

• Y’S MEN | JOINING SPECIAL

• HEALTHY EATS

• TURKEY TROT

• NEW FITNESS CLASS

• WORDS TO LIVE BY

• AFTERSCHOOL

• HOLIDAYS

ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?Feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who you think may find it useful!

STAYCONNECTED

THE FABULOUS FIGHT

By Kasey Swartzwww.TheFabulousFight.com

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

JINGLE ALL THE WAYJoin in on the fun with our annual Senior Trip to Myrtle Beach! Seats are filling up fast. To sign up, visit the Front Desk, or contact Duffy for more information.

STAY CONNECTED | Member Engagement Newsletter

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DATES TO REMEMBEROctoberOctober 5-December 7October 9October 15October 21 - 22October 23October 23 - 25November 1-December 15November 2November 3November 6November 6November 11 - 13November 26November 26November 26 - 27December 24December 25December 24 - 25

Breat Cancer Awareness MonthHelp the Hungry ChallengeSenior LuncheonYouth Basketball Registration OpensGym Closed for High School Career FairSenior Mike’s Farm TripRacquetball TournamentY’s Men Joining Fee SpecialMasters Swimming BeginsTeens in Training OrientationFutsal Begins (Indoor Soccer)Senior LuncheonSenior Myrtle Beach TripThanksgiving Day- Y Closed!Turkey TrotAfterschool/Preschool ClosedChristmas Eve- Y Closing at 1pmChristmas Day - Y Closed!Afterschool/Preschool Closed

JOIN US& SAVE

SUPER FOODS:A relatively new term that refers to foods that have large amounts of nutrition per bite, or have a high nutritional density. They are nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidents, vitamins and miner-als. Taking in these nutrients are vital to living a healthy life. Fierce4Fitness recom-mends these top Super Foods to add to your grocery list: Kale, Collard Greens, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Quinoa, Coconut Prod-ucts, Berries, Avocado, Raw Walnuts and Pomegranate. Experiment with some today!

A MOBILE APP TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS, AND KEEP INFORMATION AT YOUR

FINGERTIPS!

COMING SOON:

chemo once again. I was humbled. All doubt had left me. Doctors called me a mir-acle. My brain tumors were gone, the cancer was responding to the chemotherapy and on April 22, 2015 I was declared cancer free. Less than 1 percentile. It was short lived, as cancer decided to rear it’s ugly head once more, but I am fighting now with faith and confidence that God has me in the palm of His hand and He is guiding me on one heck of a journey!

I am now a Look Good Feel Better educator for the American Cancer Society, a Pa-tient and Wellness Advocate for doTERRA. I also blog about staying strong in the fight and try to point out the silver lining with cancer, and lastly but most impor-tantly I am an employee at the Goldsboro Family YMCA. I have met people fighting just about everything. Closed brain injuries, cerebral palsy, fellow cancer fighters, survivors, and so on. What do these people have in common? Fight. The YMCA welcomes ALL. This has impacted my fight because I have realized that we are all fighting something and not one is lesser than the other. We have watched our life go down a path that we never expected. Each and every fight is different, even if it is the same disease, or ailment, or loss. We all fight differently.

What we all have in common is faith. Everyone walks in here with a smile no matter what is going on inside. All of us come in here trusting God and overcoming what life has thrown us with motivation and courage. The YMCA has taught me I am not alone. I can be happy and fit. Healthy isn’t about what is going on in your body, it’s about what is going on in your soul. Thanks to the other conquerors that come in to work out here, my soul is healthy, fit and happy! With each struggle in life we have a choice. We can use it and overcome it or we can fall victim to it. The YMCA has helped me understand that we can overcome anything and everything!

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FOOD FIGHT!Learn the best foods to eat while going through cancer treatments, as well as foods that help to fight side effects.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20th | 11AM

Taught by Kasey Swartz, Cancer Fighter

November 1 - December 15th is our annual Joining Fee Special. New members can bring in a $50 gift card to donate to our Y’s Men community outreach, and their joining fee will be waived! All proceeds will support local families needing assistance over the holidays. Contact the Front Desk for more information.

EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 7:00AM A BIBLE STUDY IS HELD IN THE ‘Y-BRARY.’ FEEL FREE TO STOP

IN AND ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP!

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil3 cloves garlic, minced1 medium carrot, halved and thinly sliced1/2 medium onion, diced finely4½ cups low-sodium vegetable stock1 (14-oz) can no-salt added diced tomatoes1 (14-oz) can no-salt added white beans1/2 tsp. rosemary1 tsp. dried Italian seasoningDash freshly ground pepperDash red pepper flakes (optional)4 oz. small whole-wheat pasta shells4 cups baby spinach leaves4 tsp. shredded Parmesan cheese

Have you checked out the latest craze on the Group Exercise Schedule? Friday at 4:30pm is the Suspension Circuit Training class. It uses a strength training concept that uses a system of ropes and webbing to allow the user to work against their own body weight. Call the Front Desk on Fridays to reserve your spot. Also join us Mondays at 10:30am for the new Foam Roller Release and Core class to relieve muscle tightness and trigger points.

WORDS TO LIVE BY

STAY CONNECTED | Member Engagement Newsletter

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BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES; THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY, THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT.

HEAL

THY

EATS

&

BIBLE STUDY

WHITE BEAN & SPINACH SOUP

SWEE

T TR

EATS

A bowl of cancerprevention

from www.aicr.org/

ISAIAH 40:31

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, carrots, and onions until the carrots are soft, about 5 minutes.2. Add stock, tomatoes, beans, rosemary, Italian sea-soning, and pepper to skillet. Bring to boil.3. Add shells and cook 14 minutes. If soup is too thick simply add a bit more stock.4. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until wilted.5. Serve in soup bowls and sprinkle Parmesan on top.

Image: Huffington Post

G O L D S B O R O , N C

AWARDS GIVEN FOR

V i s i t G o l d s b o r o Y M C A . o r g f o r d e t a i l s

T H E G O L D S B O R O F A M I L Y Y M C A P R O U D L Y P R E S E N T S

BEST THANKSGIVING COSTUMEOVERALL + AGE GROUP MALE/FEMALE 10K | 5K

1-MILE FUN RUN YOUTH

A L L P R O C E E D S S U P P O R T C H A N G E F O R C H I L D R E N P R O G R A M

THANKSGIVING DAY

TRY SOMETHING NEW

STAY CONNECTED | A Member Engagement Newsletter

OCTOBER 2“NAME YOUR CAR DAY”• Go ahead and give it

a pet name...you know you’ve been secretly wanting to!

OCTOBER 14“TAKE YOUR TEDDY BEAR TO WORK DAY”• Then let us know how

your coworkers react

NOVEMBER 16“HAVE A PARTY WITH YOUR TEDDY BEAR DAY”• Because taking it

to work last month wasn’t celebration enough.

NOVEMBER 26“THANKSGIVING”• Join us for the Turkey

Trot in the morning to burn off any calories you may consume later!

OCTOBER 24“MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY”• See how you can

change the world, one small thing at a time!

OCTOBER 31“HALLOWEEN”• Trick or treat! It’s time

to celebrate!

NOVEMBER 13“ WORLD KINDNESS DAY”• Do something kind

for someone.... just because!

NOVEMBER 3“SANDWICH DAY”• Go ahead and pack

you one for lunch. And dinner. And perhaps, even breakfast!

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THERE’S ALWAYS A REASON TO CELEBRATEFU

N H

OLI

DAY

S

When the school day ends, children and teens need opportunities to learn and engage in meaningful activities. Their success out of school can have a posi-tive effect on their success in school. Unfortunately, one in four U.S. children are left unsupervised after 3 p.m., ac-cording to Afterschool Alliance, a non-profit public awareness advocacy or-ganization. To help close this gap, the Goldsboro Family YMCA offers a quality afterschool program.

The Y’s afterschool program combines academics with play and offers a caring and safe environment where youth can achieve, discover a sense of belonging and build relationships. As a leading nonprofit committed to youth development, and a pioneer in afterschool pro-grams, the Y believes in supporting the social-emotional, cognitive and physical processes that all youth experience – from early learning and preschool through high school graduation and college – to provide the best chance for youth to succeed in school and life.

Studies show participation in afterschool programs helps boost school attendance and academic performance and reduces gaps in academic achievement among children from disadvantaged households.

In the Goldsboro Family YMCA’s afterschool program youth receive help with homework, have access to an up-to-date media center that includes everything needed for homework, projects, and more. Participants can also explore in Arts, STEM, and literacy opportunities. Financial assistance is available to those in need, to ensure every child and teen has the opportunity to learn and grow at the Y.

For more information about the Goldsboro Family YMCA’s afterschool program, please contact Melissa, Youth Direc-tor, at 919-947-0124.

AFTER THE SCHOOLBELL RINGSY-USA