Each year Trinity Health Foundation partners with the Minot Y’s Men and local radio stations to promote ‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink.’ The proceeds from the sale of the Tough Enough to Wear Pink merchandise provide scholarships for cancer patients to go through the Trinity Health Cancer Exercise Rehabilitation Program located at the Minot Family YMCA.

Additionally, Marketplace Foods holds an annual Power of Pink Cake Auction to support patients enrolled in Trinity Health’s Cancer Exercise Rehabilitation Program. Last year, more than 40 teams representing businesses and organizations participated in the Cake Auction.

Launched in 2007, the Cancer Exercise Rehabilitation Program provides clinical exercise and conditioning for cancer patients and survivors to help them gain strength and resilience.

“The primary goals consist of helping individuals build muscle mass, muscle strength and endurance, cardio-respiratory capacity, flexibility, and improve functional ability,” said Russell Gust, MS, CSCS, manager of Trinity Health’s Exercise Physiology Department. “Secondary goals include reducing the severity of therapy side effects, preventing unwanted weight changes, and improving quality of sleep, energy levels, mood, body image, and self-esteem.”

More than more than 600 patients have benefitted from this program.

“The cancer exercise program was a huge blessing to me. When I first began the program, I was very weak and timid; opening up a jar was a struggle. Russ provided me with support, encouragement, accountability, and just as important, laughter and fun through every session. By the time the 12 weeks were finished, I was much stronger physically and mentally. I would recommend the cancer rehab program to everyone going through treatment.” - Alexa Louser