Supportive Care in Motion: Why This BC Cancer Team is Moving for Workout to Conquer Cancer

Movement means different things to everyone.

For people facing cancer, movement can be more challenging during treatment and into recovery. At BC Cancer, supportive care providers see movement as more than an activity. They view it as something deeply connected to healing, confidence and hope.

This belief inspired BC Cancer’s Supportive Care in Motion team to step up for Workout to Conquer Cancer, a 31-day fitness challenge in May that celebrates movement in all its forms while raising vital funds for cancer research and care in B.C.

A Team United by Movement

Supportive Care in Motion brings together team members across supportive care, including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, psychosocial oncology clinicians, researchers, administrative staff and trainees, as well as family members and friends. The team is captained by Dr. Lauren Capozzi, B.C. Cancer’s first cancer physiatrist and the clinical lead of BC Cancer’s new provincial rehabilitation program.

“One of the best parts of participating in this challenge is seeing how differently everyone chooses to move,” the team shares. “It reinforces that physical activity can look different for everyone!”

This year holds special significance for the team. As Workout to Conquer Cancer marks its 10-year anniversary, the BC Cancer Foundation has also launched a $2 million fundraising campaign to help advance supportive care programs at BC Cancer.

Movement as a Part of Care 

Working across BC Cancer’s Supportive Care program, team members see firsthand how movement can support people through and beyond cancer treatment.

Exercise can help patients manage treatment-related fatigue, maintain strength and function, support mental health, and reconnect with their bodies during an incredibly challenging time.

Research shows exercise can improve quality of life, reduce treatment side effects, and help people regain confidence and independence, shares Dr. Capozzi. Evidence also shows that exercise is associated with improved outcomes and survival rates for some cancer types.

“Movement matters in cancer care,” she says. “It helps people manage side effects and is a key part of recovery.”

What Keeps the Team Moving

What motivates the team most are the moments they witness in their work every day. Sometimes, it’s a patient returning to hiking, skiing or playing with their grandchildren. Other times, it’s something quieter but just as meaningful, like being able to walk around the block again without overwhelming pain or fatigue.

“These moments remind us why supportive care and rehabilitation matter,” the team says. “Seeing people rebuild confidence in their bodies after facing cancer is incredibly powerful.”

Those experiences fuel their commitment — not just to their patients, but to initiatives like Workout to Conquer Cancer that help expand access to supportive care throughout B.C.

The Impact of Your Support 

Donor support helps drive research, innovation and care programs that improve the lives of people affected by cancer across B.C.

Within BC Cancer’s Supportive Care program, these support services that play a critical role in quality of life but many patients are unaware or unable to access these services  — from physical rehabilitation to patient and family counselling to nutrition and speech therapy.

“At BC Cancer, we are working to expand access to rehabilitation and exercise programming across the province so that more patients can receive support before, during and after treatment,” shares Dr. Capozzi.

Every Move Matters  

For Supportive Care in Motion, the annual 31-day challenge goes beyond just tracking workouts. It’s about honouring what movement means — to participants, patients and families — and moving toward a future where supportive care is an integral part of cancer care for everyone in B.C.

“When we move together, we build something bigger than ourselves.”