Believe in You: Survivorship in Motion
Summary
- The Believe in You lifestyle medicine program at Sylvester enters its fourth year with more than 150 participants training together for the Dolphins Cancer Challenge.
- Participants build strength and endurance through progressive movement and receive educational content focused on plant‑forward nutrition, mindfulness and healthy living.
- “Believers of the Year” Michael Tyler and Donna Scott were honored with awards for their mentorship and steady support of the program.
On the grassy edge of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, survivors warmed up in slow arcs and chatted excitedly before the first stride on Jan. 10. Morning light slipped through the palms and provided the kind of Florida glow that makes hope, friendship and recovery feel possible. This is Believe in You, a lifestyle medicine program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where healing finds its rhythm and community becomes a compass.
From a Handful to a Hundred: A Program Growing in Strength
Now in its fourth year, Believe in You has expanded from a handful of cancer survivors to more than 150 total participants (100 survivors, 50 support persons and caregivers) who meet on Saturdays, in person and online. The 20-week structure is intentional, blending progressive training, educational content on healthy living and wellness evaluations that track changes in body composition, mobility, strength and endurance. Every session points toward the finish line of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC).
“Lifestyle medicine brings cancer care into daily life,” said Tracy Crane, Ph.D., co-leader of the Cancer Control Program and director of lifestyle medicine, prevention and digital health at Sylvester and associate professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at the Miller School. “We meet survivors where they are and translate nutrition and daily activity into practical, sustainable habits that support long-term health.”
Nutrition as Everyday Fuel, Movement That Empowers
Dr. Crane’s team frames nutrition as fuel, not perfection. Survivors practice building a healthy plate with lean protein, colorful plants and whole grains, along with hydration timing that accounts for the formidable Miami heat. Weekly newsletters with healthy recipes and culinary demos turn concepts into muscle memory. Evidence from national leaders and Sylvester reinforces the impact. Plant-forward patterns and consistent movement support quality of life during and after treatment and help survivors feel more in control of their health.
On the movement side, Paola Rossi, M.D., and Madalyn Wheeler, MSEd, ACSM-EP, developed the exercise program to ensure each “Believer” has the ability to cross the DCC finish line, no matter their starting point. Intentional progression and exercise modifications for all fitness levels are key for all of the Believe in You exercise classes. Each survivor’s baseline and medical history are taken into account by the exercise trainers, allowing for modifications to ensure safety while building confidence.
“We design progression to turn unfamiliar effort into flow,” said Loren Yavelberg, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow at the CRANE Lab. “In addition to having our survivors cross the finish line at the DCC, our goal is to reclaim autonomy, strength and confidence in their lives. Movement becomes a form of empowerment. It’s one of the few things they can actively control. Every rep, step or stretch represents resilience, and showing up is already a victory. We strive to create this supportive and empowering environment for our survivors.”
Behavior Change: The Thread That Holds It All Together
Behavior change is the steady thread that keeps progress from fraying. Bryan Mejia, a lifestyle medicine prevention and wellness health coach, helps survivors connect their goals to real-world routines—sleep, hydration, meal prep, reminders and small wins that accumulate quietly but meaningfully.
“We build habits one layer at a time because we can’t build a castle from the sky. It begins from the ground up, one brick at a time. The same applies to pursuing goals. We break them down into small, achievable chunks and build on each one,” Mejia said. “When the healthy choice becomes the easy choice at home and work, momentum follows.”
The program makes hope feel tangible. You see it in the faces beside you, in the steady cadence of a group moving toward the same finish line. We have created a community that trains together, becomes stronger together and supports each other.
Donna Scott, Believe in You program member
Survivor stories reveal what numbers alone cannot. Michael Tyler has spoken widely about how yoga therapy helped him recover after bladder cancer.
“I wasn’t just getting stronger. I was finding calm I could carry into each day,” he said.
Donna Scott, who has leaned on several Sylvester support services, echoed that sentiment.
“The program makes hope feel tangible,” she said. “You see it in the faces beside you, in the steady cadence of a group moving toward the same finish line. We have created a community that trains together, becomes stronger together and supports each other.”
Honoring Leadership, Building Community
At the Jan. 10 walk, Believe in You’s culture of encouragement came into focus when Dr. Crane presented the “Believer of the Year” awards to Tyler and Scott. Tyler was recognized as a mentor to new participants, a peer who reaches out between sessions and encourages others to explore Sylvester’s full spectrum of survivorship programs. Scott was honored as an unwavering presence who lifts the group with quiet determination and consistent support.
In every step, Believe in You shows that survivorship is not an endpoint. It is movement—forward, together—powered by science, strengthened by community and guided by the belief that healing grows stronger when you walk toward it.
“Believe in You shows what survivorship can look like when science, support and steady practice come together. Every step becomes a reminder that healing is ongoing and that no one has to move through it alone,” said Dr. Crane.
Tags: Believe in You – You Are Living Proof, DCC, dolphins cancer challenge, Dr. Paola Rossi, Dr. Tracy Crane, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center