According to the American Cancer Society, regular exercise can help lower the risk of more than ten different types of cancer. A new programme from the Georgia Cancer Center will make it easier for locals to get the resources they need to keep healthy.

Residents of five local low-income housing complexes filled out surveys as part of the Cancer Health Awareness through screeNinG and Education (CHANGE) Initiative run by the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University to express what they believe is needed in their community to promote healthy living. The CHANGE Initiative seeks to lower the risk of cancer among Georgians while also educating them about cancer prevention.

Dr. Marlo Vernon, an assistant professor at the Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center, explained that the initiative has two components. Working in the community, educating people about cancer, reducing cancer risk via lifestyle modifications, and ultimately encouraging people to obtain cancer screenings, notably COVID, are some of the components. A change inbeen a dramatic drop in the number of persons having routine tests.

Vernon emphasised the significance of first speaking with the community to learn what their wants are. Change is simpler to implement when residents support the initiative. One of the populations being targeted are the residents of the nearby apartment complex Ervin Towers. Since they lack an on-site gym and many residents are unable to attend fitness programmes outside of their complex, their study revealed that residents demand more access to exercise activities. On September 16, the Georgia Cancer Center and the Kroc Center collaborated to inform the inhabitants of the value of leading an active lifestyle.

The Kroc Center’s Justus Walker, a fitness coordinator, led a “movers and shakers” workshop for locals to learn how to take care of their bodies via exercise. Given that older persons make up the majority of Ervin Towers’ inhabitants, the programme featured physical exercises for those with restricted mobility.

In order to share information and expertise, Walker said, “We enjoy working with the elders and being able to interact with them outside of the Kroc Center has been a great want for us.”
As part of the CHANGE Initiative, which aims to lower cancer risks among residents, instructors from the Kroc Center and nearby sports shop Fleet Feet will start coming to Ervin Towers on a weekly basis to lead group exercise sessions.

The majority of these people are older, therefore we want them to understand the significance of cancer, how it could effect them, and how to prevent it.Their education and awareness are crucial, according to Derek Bell, a resident care consultant at Ervin Towers. Many of the inhabitants of Ervin Towers have been there for a while, but they haven’t had the opportunity to take the measures necessary to establish a healthy lifestyle owing to a lack of nearby services.

“I believe this to be fantastic. Rhonda Pleinis, vice president of the Ervin Towers Association, said, “I’ve lived here for 15 years, and I’d want to see everyone get up and be more active instead of whining about how they don’t feel well.

The most crucial thing, according to Bell, is that individuals receive as many services as they can to enhance their quality of life. The CHANGE Initiative will provide help to five neighbourhood houses, with Ervin Towers being the second. Since their neighbourhood is located in an area where fresh markets are not easily accessible, members of Peabody Apartments called for more access to fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the summer.

Many of the inhabitants of Ervin Towers have been there for some time, but have not had the opportunity to take the measures necessary to establish a healthy lifestyle owing to a lack of nearby services.

“I find it to be excellent. 15 years have passed since I first moved here, so rather than complaining about how unwell everyone is, said Rhonda Pleinis, vice president of the Ervin Towers Association.
The most crucial thing, according to Bell, is that we want our seniors to take use of as many services as they can to raise their quality of life.

The second of five neighbourhood homes to get assistance from the CHANGE Initiative is Ervin Towers. Since Peabody Apartment is located in an area without many nearby fresh market options, residents there called for greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the summer.