CDPHP^® Supports Well on Our Way Program

Photo caption: From left, Mary Ibbetson, certified personal trainer, program instructor and cancer survivor; Dick Laliberte, cancer survivor and program participant; John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO of CDPHP; Debra Lambert, Ciccotti Center director; and Nikki A. Caruso, MSW, Colonie Youth Center executive director.

CDPHP^® Partners with Ciccotti Center on Well on Our Way Program

ALBANY, N.Y. – June 27, 2012 – CDPHP^® is pleased to announce a partnership with the Colonie Youth Center’s Rudy A. Ciccotti Family Recreation Center on a program designed for people living with chronic conditions. The Well on Our Way program provides the support and motivation for people living with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic conditions to live healthier lives.

Well on Our Way is a free exercise and health education program that is open to the public. Cancer survivor and Certified Personal Trainer, Mary Ibbetson, who was inspired by her own personal battle with cancer is teaching the program.

"After being diagnosed with a disease or illness, we tend to focus on what we no longer can do. Now is the time to focus on what we can do to restore our health and our hope,” said Ibbetson. “I am so grateful that CDPHP sees the value in what I do!” added Ibbetson. 

“You will be surprised by what you can do when you challenge yourself,” said Dick Laliberte, a cancer survivor and participant in the Well on Our Way program. “When new people show up to the group, they’re out of their comfort zone and need support from others. This program works just like a support group and I can’t imagine my recovery without it,” he added.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, survivors of breast and colorectal cancer who exercise regularly lower their risk of recurrence and dying from the disease by 30 to 50 percent.

“This is more proof that exercise is medicine,” said John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO, CDPHP. “We are thrilled to partner with the Ciccotti Center and support the Well on Our Way program, which provides important support, education, and fitness for those affected by various illnesses,” added Bennett.

“We are proud to have a partner with the Capital Region’s leading health plan,” said Debra Lambert, center director, Rudy A. Ciccotti Family Recreation Center. “I want to thank CDPHP for stepping up to the plate to support a program that provides a vital service to the community and those affected by chronic diseases,” added Lambert.

CDPHP is also partnering with the Ciccotti Center to provide its members with an area where they can assess their fitness needs, learn about fitness equipment, and customize their workouts with trained staff members. The CDPHP Fitness Assessment, Orientation, and Training area, which officially opened today, is complimentary to Ciccotti Center members and can include customized personal training for those who choose to pursue this option. 

About CDPHP^®
Established in 1984 as a physician-founded, member-focused, and community-based not-for-profit health plan, CDPHP and its affiliates are uniquely positioned to serve as a model of quality and health value, offering members in 24 counties throughout New York a full array of innovative products. Visit CDPHP at www.cdphp.com or on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

About CYC and the Ciccotti Center

The Rudy A. Ciccotti Family Recreation Center is a project of the Colonie Youth Center (CYC), a private non-profit corporation dedicated to enhancing the living experience for all people in the greater Capital Region. CYC accomplishes this through the provision of quality child care, counseling, recreation, education, health and fitness services and programs for youth, adults and seniors. Visit www.colonieyouthcenter.org or www.ciccotticenter.org.

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