|
|
Mission:
-
•Help young Cancer survivors
regain their fitness, strength, conditioning and confidence.
•
Overview:
-
•Back in the Game is a
unique physical therapy program designed to help children who either
recently completed cancer treatment, or are currently enduring
treatment, return to physical activity and sports participation by
providing access to a customized physical fitness, strength and
conditioning program free of charge.
•
What is ‘Back in the Game’:
-
•A 12-week program for kids
ages 4-17
-
•Program includes 2 one-hour
sessions per week
-
•Program includes an initial
one-on-one evaluation as well as a post-program evaluation
-
•The specific activities focus on
strength, conditioning and general fitness with the potential
biggest benefit being improved self-esteem and confidence
-
•The program is currently available
in Nassau County, New York, and is administered at the Professional
Athletic Performance Center in Garden City under the supervision of
Rob Panariello and Paul Fick both of whom are physical therapists
and strength & conditioning experts.
•
Who Participates?
-
•The program is available to
any pediatric cancer patient and/or survivor based on the consent of
their primary oncologist
-
•Currently there are 23 children
participating in the Fall 2006 12-week program
-
•Children have been referred to the
program from Winthrop University Hospitals’ Cancer Center for Kids,
Beth Israel’s Children’s Cancer Center and LIJ’s Schneider’s Cancer
Center
Progress To Date:
-
•Launched in the Spring of 2006, the Pilot
Program included 15 children
-
•All children showed dramatic improvement in all
areas including;
-
–10% - 22% improvement in speed and agility
-
–50% -1,000 % improvement in strength
Future Growth and
Development:
-
•The goal of the program is to continually
expand the number of participants as well as participating
pediatric oncology centers throughout Long Island
-
•On-going fund raising is required to off-set the
cost for the participating children (currently the
cost-per-child for the 12-week session is $750)
-
•Expand the number of participating Athletic
Performance Centers and continually grow the scope and reach
of the program
-
•Create an opportunity for other children to learn
from and be inspired by these incredible ‘athletes’
•
•
|
|
