Renewed Strength for Ontarians with Cancer
Dee Miller makes a difference through physical activity.
Dee Miller's life changed in 2002 when the fitness trainer learned she had cancer. After surgery, Dee, like many cancer patients, was weak and tired. Fed up with feeling this way, Dee did something about it: she got back into shape.
A client of Dee's, who also had cancer, saw Dee's results and asked her for help. Dee soon realized that it was hard for people to find information about getting back into shape after cancer. That's when Dee started Renewed Strength, an exercise program for people with cancer.
If you don't use your muscles, they get weaker and weaker.
"Many people with cancer can't do a simple thing like making a cup of tea without getting really tired," says the 41-year-old Dee. "We're not sure why. It could be the illness, side effects from the treatment or just not exercising. It also happens when you've broken a bone and are wearing a cast: if you don't use your muscles, they get weaker and weaker."
Every week, Dee gives free classes at Gilda's Club Greater Toronto. She also travels to London and teaches at Wellspring and The Ladies' Room, and recently started to give Renewed Strength classes in Sudbury as well. Only ten people at a time can take the class. This lets Dee give her personal attention to everybody.
"My class fills the gap between the time when people leave the hospital and the time when their lives go back to normal," Dee explains. "And people can talk about their cancer with others who understand what they're going through."
Dee is also helping people in smaller communities who can't get to her classes. With the help of Active2010, she put the Renewed Strength exercises on VHS and DVD. Her organization now offers them free to all Ontarians with cancer. "I'm from Espanola," says Dee. "I know how hard it is to get services up north. This way, anyone in Ontario can get the help they need to become active again after cancer."
I don't have a car, walking gets me where I'm going.
On top of running Renewed Strength, Dee still works as a fitness trainer for her own clients. She also finds time to walk every day. "I don't have a car," she says. "Walking gets me where I'm going." These daily walks have led to bigger things: Dee has taken part in 4 marathons. Her best time is 4 hours 52 minutes in the Chicago Marathon.
By finding a way to stay active after cancer, Dee Miller is now able to help all Ontarians living with the disease. She has truly made a difference.
