Survival to Strength

Our mission is to help people facing cancer improve treatment tolerance, recovery, and overall well-being by offering free, evidence-based one-on-one and group-based strength training sessions that rebuild muscle, restore confidence, and support the body through every stage of the journey.

Story

Survival to Strength has delivered 6,054 free training sessions to people navigating cancer during and after treatment. Decades of research show that maintaining muscle improves treatment tolerance, immune function, and overall recovery, but insurance doesn’t cover this kind of support.

While millions are spent on cancer research, the people enduring treatment need help right now. 

We would gladly shut our doors the day cancer treatment causes no harm, but until that becomes reality, we need your help to care for those suffering today.

A Give to the Max Day gift ensures someone in treatment gets the strength, support, and guidance they need.

From Our Founder

Survival to Strength was founded on a simple truth: maintaining muscle is one of the most powerful ways to protect your overall health, especially during and after cancer. Research shows that regular physical activity strengthens muscles, tendons, and ligaments, builds bone density, improves sleep and mood, sharpens brain function, boosts immune health, and speeds recovery, reducing complications along the way.

Physical activity doesn’t just support the body; it can help prevent cancer and assist your body in slowing or fighting cancer growth. Every system in the body works better when you stay active. And you don’t need marathons or extreme workouts to see the benefits; mild to moderate exercise is enough. And if a triathlon is your goal, we’ll help you reach it safely.

Cancer changes how your body feels and what it can do. It’s common to question what’s safe, what’s possible, and where to begin. Yet insurance doesn’t cover physical activity education or personalized exercise support, leaving too many people on their own at a time when they need guidance the most.

That’s why Survival to Strength exists. We are a nonprofit dedicated to providing free, personalized strength training to anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis. Our mission is to help you rebuild strength, improve your health, and feel more capable and confident throughout your treatment and recovery.

Sincerely, 

Clare Poulose, RN, MSN

Cancer Exercise Specialist, ACSM, PALS