How a Zumbathon at Mystic Valley YMCA Raised Funds
The Setup
People showed up — some in sneakers they hadn’t laced up in a while, some with family members in tow, some who’d been through cancer treatment and were still figuring out what movement could look like on the other side of it.
The event was organized by Diego Nascimento, Director of Healthy Living, at the Mystic Valley YMCA, which serves the communities of Everett, Malden, and Medford in Massachusetts. Diego and his team facilitate Livestrong at the YMCA — a free, evidence-based program designed to help cancer survivors rebuild strength, endurance, and confidence through exercise — and they wanted to do something active that could both raise funds and raise awareness for the program.
The answer? A Zumbathon!
A Fundraiser That Actually Feels Like a Party
The Zumbathon invited the community to show up and move.
While participants danced to upbeat rhythms for the duration of the event, the physical experience itself served as a direct reflection of what Livestrong at the YMCA is built on — the idea that movement is medicine.
As Diego put it: the money was only part of the story.
Several attendees showed genuine excitement about Livestrong at the YMCA and exploring the CancerFit resources. Some heard of these resources to help them along their journey for the first time.
“The energy and enthusiasm throughout the event were incredible — so much so that attendees are already asking about the next one. We’re planning to bring it back this fall with an even bigger and better experience.” — Diego Nascimento, Director of Healthy Living, Mystic Valley YMCA
The Zumbathon may have been the headline, but inside the Livestrong at the YMCA program itself, something equally worth noting has been unfolding. As the current cohort wraps up its final sessions, Nascimento says the group has taken on a life of its own — participants who had never set foot in a gym before the program are now organizing Saturday workouts together through a group chat.
At a recent final assessment session, the group stayed an extra 20 minutes — not for structured activity, but simply to talk and laugh together.
“It’s just such an awesome program that we all take such pride in.” — Diego Nascimento, Director of Healthy Living, Mystic Valley YMCA
It is the kind of outcome that is difficult to capture in a program metric but speaks directly to what Livestrong at the YMCA is designed to do: not just improve physical fitness, but rebuild the sense of community and agency that a cancer diagnosis can strip away.
Follow Along
Want to stay in the loop on the fall Zumbathon and everything happening at Mystic Valley YMCA? Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, event announcements, and a front-row view of a community that shows up for its people.
Photos from the event were taken by Susan Margot Ecker.
Interested in bringing Livestrong at the Y to your community, or finding a certified CancerFit trainer near you?
Visit our CancerFit page
