2027 Grants Will Expand Access to Exercise Programs for People Affected by Cancer

Ten fitness organizations across the United States will receive funding to train professionals in exercise oncology and expand specialized programs for people during and after cancer treatment.

People living with and beyond cancer will soon have greater access to specialized exercise programs in communities across the United States through a new grant initiative supporting 10 fitness organizations.

The Exercise Oncology Grants, funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and administered by the HFA Foundation, will provide each of the 10 selected HFA member facilities with $4,800 to support staff training and the development or expansion of exercise oncology programming. More than 30 fitness professionals are expected to pursue specialized exercise oncology credentials through the initiative.

“Fitness facilities have an important role to play in supporting people living with and beyond cancer,” said Greta Wagner, interim president and CEO of the Health & Fitness Association and president of the HFA Foundation Board. “Through this initiative, we can help fitness operators equip their professional staff with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to safely and confidently serve members affected by cancer, while expanding access to exercise as an important part of overall health and well-being.”

The 10 recipients represent fitness organizations and communities across the country: CBRC Health & Fitness in Richland, Washington; The Claremont Club in Claremont, California; Plymouth Fitness in Plymouth, Massachusetts; Healthworks Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Columbia Association in Columbia, Maryland; Cedardale Health + Fitness in Haverhill, Massachusetts; acac Fitness & Wellness Centers in Charlottesville, Virginia; The Houstonian Hotel Club and Spa in Houston, Texas; Hawthorn Farms Athletic Club in Hillsboro, Oregon; and Fit Studio: The Minnesota Exercise Oncology Program with AKTIV Against Cancer in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Recipients were selected based on their commitment to improving community health and serving people affected by cancer, including individuals undergoing active treatment, as well as their plans to use the funding to strengthen existing programs or develop new ones.

Each organization has committed to having at least three staff members complete an exercise oncology credential. Credentialed professionals will also participate in three facilitated learning sessions and receive a best practices guide to support the development and delivery of exercise oncology programming.

“By investing in the people and facilities that can deliver this programming, we are helping close the gap between what research tells us about the benefits of exercise and what individuals affected by cancer can actually access,” said Amy Bantham, executive director of the HFA Foundation. “These grants will help build a better-prepared fitness workforce and expand opportunities for people affected by cancer to benefit from physical activity.”

The grant program is part of a broader partnership between HFA and ACS focused on increasing awareness of the role physical activity can play during and after cancer treatment and expanding access to qualified exercise professionals and specialized programs.

As participating facilities put the funding into action, the initiative will help strengthen the fitness industry’s ability to serve people affected by cancer and connect more individuals with appropriate physical activity resources in their own communities.