When Nina Fogg was in her 50s, she didn’t know what a triathlon was. It wasn’t until she had breast cancer and joined Team Survivor Northwest that she not only learned about triathlons but couldn’t get enough of them!
Since then, over the last 26 years, Nina has completed more than 80 triathlons, 8 marathons (including the Seattle Marathon 4 times) and countless other races. She’s been an active member of Team Survivor Northwest – a Seattle nonprofit that provides free health and fitness programs to women who have had a cancer diagnosis - since its conception more than 25 years ago.
“I love staying in shape and having someone else be there to encourage me and push me through it,” Nina said. “You have all these teammates show up and inspire you. That’s the best part. The team spirit.”
Members of Team Survivor participate in a variety of free programs, including fitness classes, dragon boating, cycling, hiking and triathlon training. It doesn’t matter if you are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment or have been in remission for years. The unique, tight-knit community of women serves as a source of confidence, support and inspiration.
The research shows that exercise during and after cancer treatment greatly reduces symptoms, re-occurrence and mortality.
“So many women not only say, ‘Team Survivor Northwest changed my life,’ they say, ‘It saved my life,’” said Nina. “It’s all in the name. It’s a team and we are surviving,” Nina said. “It’s not about the cancer. Nobody even talks about it. We have something in common. We belong to a club that maybe we wouldn’t choose. But I wouldn’t trade it. I would not change all the ways my life has been affected because of Team Survivor.”
