A University of Calgary research project to bring exercise and social connection to both cancer survivors and those who are battling cancer in rural communities made its way into Swift Current.

the Exercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well (EXCEL) project saw a need that wasn't being filled for many people outside of larger communities. While many urban centres offer cancer-specific exercise programs, rural areas can lack the resources to keep pace.

At its heart, the project is about exercise and helping maintain the energy, fitness and fatigue that can often lag due to cancer treatments. But on a deeper level, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's a social connection for those in isolated communities struggling to battle their cancer; a link to others who are fighting the same war.

Julianna Dreger is a Research Coordinator and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

"There's the social element and emotional well-being that people often say is a great aspect of the program...Especially in these COVID times where people feel a little bit more isolated, having this class that's twice a week online is a wonderful way to get together with people who are going with the same thing and just feel like you're part of something as well"

The program, run virtually through Zoom, makes use of what the participant has on hand rather than relying on expensive exercise equipment. For Dreger, that aspect is important, as it means exposing the program to a wider audience of participants who may benefit.

One of those participants is Swift Current's Carol Wagner, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2019.

After reaching out to a few organizations looking for help on her own cancer journey, she was directed to the EXCEL program, eventually finding a spot in October of last year when the University of Calgary extended its slate of classes.

"And now I have this Cancer connection now with people because this is what the program is for. It's for people that are going through cancer and have been through cancer. And it's to help them get back their strength, their energy; sort of connecting with people that are going through the same thing."

For Wagner, the physical exercise was almost an extra bonus; with the main draw being the connection to others who she describes as "on the same page". Once diagnosed, she said everything became more important, with a want to do more exercise.

"So I basically got two-in-one. It's given me more energy and overall I just feel good after I've done this hour of exercising. They give us the warmup, the actual hour of exercising, and then a cool down."

She added that participants can go on fifteen minutes before and after class to ask instructors questions or to simply connect with other participants about anything at all. All without leaving her house, which is something she appreciates.

Wagner's EXCEL program ended in December, but she has since gone on to the other optional program, the Alberta Cancer Exercise Program (ACE) which the University of Calgary runs alongside EXCEL with similar goals.

While there is a cost to ACE, she feels the benefit is well worth it.

"I signed up for this one as well because I really enjoyed the connection. Everybody was on the same page as me. We all were going through the same...not the same cancer...but just cancer in general. And so now I entered that one, or joined that one."

At the end of the day, Dreger hopes that the program can expand and be sustainable, calling it "implementation science".

Providing that exercise and connection to rural cancer patients and survivors only works if the program in those areas is sustainable. And that includes getting to know and building relationships with the healthcare providers.

"So we're really trying to build those networks so that anytime someone in the community is diagnosed with cancer that healthcare providers know that there's a program that they can refer them to."

Operating initially out of a Calgary Hub; with serves as the research centre providing support to the smaller communities, the program has now expanded, with Edmonton, Nova Scotia having hubs of their own and another soon to be opened in Toronto.