POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP: Willamette Valley Cancer Institute Renews Commitment to the Y's Life-Changing Cancer Support Program
Generous donation supports LIVESTRONG at the YMCA and other cancer programming for cancer survivors and those undergoing treatment
Eugene, Ore., July 22, 2025 — The Willamette Valley Cancer Institute has renewed their commitment and partnership with the Eugene Family YMCA by again generously donating $40,000 over three years to support the YMCA’s LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a research-based physical activity and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors achieve their holistic health goals. It is a free, 12-week program for cancer survivors, who receive a tailored workout plan based on an interview, their physician’s recommendations and a physical fitness assessment.
“We saw firsthand the impact of our 2021 donation, and it’s clear that this unique program meets a critical need in our community,” said Casey Chiasson, Executive Director of the Willamette Valley Cancer Institute. “We feel both honored and compelled to continue support of this key program for survivors. Our hope is that it will inspire others to join the efforts, which would allow the development of additional programs and services for survivors outside of LIVESTRONG.”
The Eugene Family YMCA was the first YMCA in Oregon to launch the evidence-based program, founded in partnership with the Livestrong Foundation in 2007. Since its inception in January 2016, the Eugene Y’s LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program has graduated 275 people.
“Partnerships like the one we have with Willamette Valley Cancer Institute are essential for sustaining and expanding high-quality programs like LIVESTRONG at the YMCA,” said Brian Steffen, CEO of the Eugene Family YMCA. “With a consistent waitlist of around 100 individuals, our goal has always been to reach more survivors, sooner. This renewed support allows us to continue to offer programming that helps individuals during and after cancer treatment—a crucial time in their lives. Having the backing of a trusted leader like Willamette Valley Cancer Institute makes a tremendous difference in serving some of our community’s most vulnerable members.”
In addition to their incredible donation, the Willamette Valley Cancer Institute has been at every Walk It Off with the Y, a free weekly event that combines movement and community—with guided and independent walks, raffles and family-friendly activities for all ages. WVCI encourages their patients to establish a gentle walking routine during the summer that they can then carry on with them through the colder seasons as well.
Inspired by WVCI’s recent commitment, an anonymous donor has jumped in to help expand offerings. The Y typically offers four sessions of LIVESTRONG at the YMCA each year, but this summer it launched a brand-new pilot session to expand access. This fall, the YMCA will introduce an educational series specifically for cancer survivors in our community at any stage of treatment. In addition, several personal trainers are undergoing specialized training to better support individuals who have completed cancer treatment.
“Our patients’ care and well-being always come first,” said Dr. Benjamin Cho, oncologist at Willamette Valley Cancer Institute. “We trust the Eugene Family YMCA to provide the same level of compassion and support we strive to deliver—especially when it comes to exercise and recovery. Knowing our patients have access to LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, educational workshops, or specialized personal training brings us tremendous peace of mind during their healing journey.”
The Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center has 27 oncologists on staff and has locations in the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon Coast. It is affiliated with the US Oncology Network, one of the largest cancer treatment and research networks in the country.
Learn more about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA HERE.
MEDIA CONTACT
Beth Casper
VP of Community Engagement
Eugene Family YMCA
(541) 686-9622 ext. 1403
(503) 302-8776 (mobile)
beth@eugeneymca.org
About the Eugene Family YMCA
The Eugene Family YMCA is one of the region's leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Each year across Lane County, the Y engages thousands of people regardless of age, gender, income or background—to nurture the potential of children, teens and seniors; improve health and well-being; and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The YMCA has been serving the Eugene area since 1887.
About the Willamette Valley Cancer Institute
At Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center, we offer hope. We guide and navigate. We are our patients’ strongest advocates. As part of the US Oncology Network of over 1,200 independent physicians, we are dedicated to delivering value-based, integrated care to patients close to home in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Florence, Lincoln City, Newport, and Springfield, Oregon. As part of the Network, we form a community of shared expertise and resources committed to advancing local cancer care and delivering better patient outcomes. WVCI actively participates in clinical trials through Sarah Cannon Research Institute, a clinical trial leader in the majority of approved cancer therapies over the last decade.
