We are very excited and proud to tell you that as of January 1, 2011, Summit Cancer Solutions has merged with the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association Foundation (CPRA) and has changed its name to the Cancer Fitness Institute. CPRA is a nonprofit professional association of 1,500 recreation professionals and over 200 municipal recreation centers in Colorado and is the state affiliate of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA).

With the merger, CPRA is getting Summit’s 12 years of expertise, cancer exercise manual and training course, and we are getting immediate access to hundreds of recreation centers in Colorado. Together, CPRA and the Cancer Fitness Institute will be able to bring the Summit Cancer/CancerFit exercise program to recreation centers and cancer survivors across Colorado, potentially serving thousands of cancer survivors each year.

The recreation centers that currently offer the Summit Cancer/CancerFit exercise program will continue offering the program – the only change participants will notice is that enrollment for the program will be through the hosting recreation center.

The Cancer Fitness Institute (CFI) is a nonprofit organization that offers training to exercise physiologists and recreation professionals on its Summit Cancer Solutions cancer exercise program.  The Cancer Fitness Institute is run by the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA).

The Cancer Fitness Institute's Training Course is a complete turn-key program.  Participants leave with the knowledge, experience, and related paperwork to bring a cancer exercise program to their own recreation center or other organization.

Numerous recreation centers offer the Summit Cancer Solutions/CancerFit's exercise program to cancer survivors based on the training that CFI provides.  See the Locations page to find a location near you!

How does exercise training benefit a cancer survivor? More and more research is proving that exercise can help cancer patients.

• exercise improves cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength
• exercise reduces fatigue
• exercise improves ability to perform day-to-day duties
• exercise enhances mood and reduces anxiety
• exercise reduces pain and nausea
• exercise refocuses energy from illness to wellness

"We're seeing better everday function and overall higher quality of life for cancer survivors who exercise," said Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., American College of Sports Medicine.