The grants will help fitness facilities train more than 30 professionals and expand access to specialized exercise programs for people during and after cancer treatment.

Washington, DC–October 6, 2026–Ten fitness organizations across the United States will receive Exercise Oncology Grants as part of an initiative designed to expand access to qualified exercise professionals and specialized physical activity programs for people during and after cancer treatment. The initiative is through the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) and the American Cancer Society. 

Funded by the American Cancer Society and administered by the HFA Foundation, the grants will help fitness facilities train staff in exercise oncology and develop or expand programs to better serve people living with and beyond cancer. More than 30 fitness professionals across the 10 recipient organizations are expected to pursue approved 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.”

“At the American Cancer Society, we know that quality cancer care extends beyond medical treatment,” said Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, interim chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society.  “Physical activity can help people maintain their strength, independence, and overall well-being, making it an important part of whole-person care. By increasing the availability of community-based exercise oncology programs, we are bringing personalized, supportive care within reach for more people as they navigate treatment, recovery, and life after cancer.”

The 10 grant recipients are:

• CBRC Health & Fitness (Columbia Basin Racquet Club), Richland, Washington
• The Claremont Club, Claremont, California
• Plymouth Fitness, Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Healthworks Group, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Columbia Association, Columbia, Maryland
• Cedardale Health + Fitness, Haverhill, Massachusetts
• acac Fitness & Wellness Centers, Charlottesville, Virginia
• The Houstonian Hotel Club and Spa, Houston, Texas
• Hawthorn Farms Athletic Club, Hillsboro, Oregon
• Fit Studio: The Minnesota Exercise Oncology Program with AKTIV Against Cancer, 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 recipient has committed to have at least three staff members complete an exercise oncology credential. Grant recipients will use the funding within six months of receiving the award. Credentialed staff 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 the American Cancer Society aimed at increasing awareness of the role physical activity can play during and after cancer treatment and expanding access to qualified exercise professionals and specialized programs.

About the Health & Fitness Association

The Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA), a global community of industry leaders, is the only worldwide trade association providing a unified voice for the community of leaders who operate health and fitness facilities, offer professional guidance on physical activity, and provide the tools and equipment to do so to the millions of fitness facility members who understand that exercise improves their physical and mental health. Through advocacy, education, and research, the association speaks to opportunities, challenges, and changes that are moving the industry into a new era.

Founded in 1981, the association publishes a monthly magazine, Health & Fitness Business, and operates The HFA Show, the HFA European Congress, and the Fly-In and Advocacy Summit. The association also partners on events around the world, including Fitness Brasil, ChinaFit, Wellness & Fitness LATAM, SPORTEC Japan, and SPORTEC Thailand, Follow the Health & Fitness Association on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.