July 24, 2023
On June 24, YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties graduated 59 participants from its Veterans Wellness Pathway, the largest group of graduates since the program’s inception in 2015. The free, donor-supported Veterans Wellness Initiative began as a way to create community and wellness opportunities for Bucks County Veterans. The Pathway program recently expanded to the Deer Path branch in Flemington, NJ, where 28 Veterans completed the region’s inaugural program.
“As a Veteran, the Y has made me feel special, part of something bigger than myself,” stated Carol Darcy, a graduate of the Veterans Pathway program in Hunterdon County. “I am a proud U.S. Air Force Veteran who served during the final years of the Vietnam War. I was one of the first women to go through mechanical/technical training at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and work on the flight lines at Dover Air Force Base and Hickam AFB in Hawaii. For someone who needed to lose weight and focus on maneuverability and core strength, this program was relevant. The Y team listened to our concerns and interests and modified the program to accommodate all of us. It was a wonderful, and very much appreciated program.”
The 12-week program meets once per week at a branch wellness center for physical exercise and activities, and once per week on Zoom to share experiences and other wellness habits like nutrition and meditation. Graduates of the program receive a subsequent six-month membership to the Y to help continue new, healthy routines. Through 2022, the Y has served over 650 veterans and their families in the pathway program.
Photo caption: Veterans Ed Ganley and Carol Darcy flex out the TRX bands as part of the Veterans Pathway program at the YMCA Deer Path branch in Flemington.