PALS For Life Changes Lives

The PALS For Life fall 2015 program at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center is coming to a close and I wanted to personally thank you for your generous support of this very worthwhile program. It has impacted my life as a cancer survivor in a very meaningful way.

I am blessed to be the wife of a loving husband, the mother of two and he grandmother of four adorable grandchildren. And for over thirty years I experienced the joy of being an elementary school teacher.

Cancer first entered my life twenty-four years ago, then again eight years ago, and most recently this past spring. Through out my journey with cancer, I have felt loved and supported by family and friends. In fact, it was one of those dear people who brought the PALS program to my attention and I am very grateful she did. It makes a difference in the lives of those who are fortunate enough to participate.

The twelve-week fall session has enhanced the lives of six dynamic women. It changed our lives not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Physically we are all stronger and more confident in what our bodies are capable of doing. Mentally we better understand the importance of exercise and the role it plays in maintenance our health. Emotionally we have created a common bond of caring, support and friendship that will nurture us beyond the boundaries of this program. We are all moving forward!

The program you have helped fund has accomplished a great deal, but none of that would have happened without the guidance and dedication of our instructor, Erin Buck. Erin is the seventh member of our team. She is a dynamic young woman whose dedication to the program and its participants was obvious from the start. Her knowledge of current research and trends guide her practice and allows her to modify the program to meet our individual needs. Her positive attitude and warmth created the environment that allowed us to trust and try new things. She gently moved us forward to meet our goals. She went above and beyond to create a program that worked for everybody! She sincerely cared about us and we knew it!

I hope this letter has given you some insight into the program you have helped to create, the people who direct it, and those who benefit the most from it.

Sandy Acker - Norwich, VT

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