Cherry Hill resident Karen P. began attending yoga and physical therapy classes at the Katz JCC more than three years ago.
Karen had just finished undergoing radiation for breast cancer at Fox Chase Cancer Center. While she had beaten cancer, her doctor said she had to remain active the rest of her life.
“There I was, finishing up with radiation, and I was very weak,” Karen said. “My PT person said because of the radiation, I had to do yoga every day for the rest of my life.”
Karen chose to attend yoga and physical therapy classes at the Katz JCC. Little did she know the impact she would have on her trainers, the JCC and the entire Cherry Hill community.
Karen is the inspiration behind Planks for Pink, an event where participants raise money for the American Cancer Society. This year is the third time the Katz JCC is holding the event. It will be on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 9:15 a.m.
Karen’s trainer, Jayne Miller-Morgan, and her yoga instructor, Nancy Davis, came up with the idea for the event after meeting Karen and learning about her story. Instead of doing a run or a walk, they decided to do an event involving planking, a form of exercise where one does push-ups from their elbows. The event also includes yoga demonstrations.
“It’s more about mind and body awareness,” Miller-Morgan said.
Karen didn’t originally know she was the inspiration for the event.
“Jayne was training me, and unbeknownst to me, they decided they wanted to do something to help me and other women,” she said. “It wasn’t until Jayne sent an email that it would be coming that I was the one that gave her the idea. That really humbled me.”
The relationship between Karen, Miller-Morgan and Davis goes beyond the gym. The trio has developed a tight friendship. This bond was just as important to Karen as the actual training was.
“They’ve both become good friends,” Karen said. “They are wonderful, caring people who will do anything to help other people. In this day and age, that’s really rare.”
Many of the activities, such as yoga, were things the 67-year-old Karen would have never considered doing in the past. She acknowledges many of the exercises have not been easy, but said Miller-Morgan and Davis have given her the confidence to continue moving forward.
“Meeting these two women and learning so much and feeling so cared for, even when they were pushing me the most, it was always done sweetly and lovingly,” she said.
Planks for Pink has become bigger as the years have gone on. Miller-Morgan estimates the JCC had 40 to 50 participants in its first two years.
“Last year, we raised about $2,200,” Miller-Morgan said. “The first year we raised about $1,500.”
Everyone is invited to attend Planks for Pink. While participants can register at katzjcc.org and fundraise leading up to the event, Miller-Morgan said anyone can pay $15 at the door and participate.
As for Karen, she hopes other people with breast cancer find the strength to persevere like she did.
“Cancer is not a death sentence,” she said. “I knew I would be fine based on my team at Fox Chase. It really wasn’t that bad of an ordeal. And then I met these two women who turned my life around. So it has been really quite wonderful. “Honestly, Jayne and Nancy saved my life.”
