25,000+ | 1 in 3 |
In 2016, Nancy’s life changed in an instant. A car traveling 75 miles an hour broadsided her vehicle, leaving her hospitalized for three months. She underwent neck surgery, experienced temporary paralysis, and had to learn to walk again. Not long after, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Years of health challenges followed, and eventually the emotional toll became overwhelming.
“I got depressed,” Nancy recalls. “I stayed in bed for about a year and got really weak.”
Many older adults experience similar isolation, which increases the risk of depression, cognitive decline, and other serious health challenges.
Nancy decided it was time to reconnect with the world. She returned to the Lakewood Family YMCA and began attending low impact classes like chair yoga and Enhance®Fitness. Before long, she was coming four or five days a week. Along the way, she found more than exercise.
“After the accident, I lost my friendship circles,” Nancy says. “Here, people remember my name. They cheer me on.”
Through group fitness, wellness programs, and social activities, the YMCA helps thousands of adults build meaningful connections that support both physical and emotional health.
Today, Nancy continues rebuilding her strength and her community.