October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when people worldwide come together to spread awareness about the most common cancer affecting women and the second most common cancer globally. At O2 Fitness, we come together to fight breast cancer through our annual Sweat for the Cure event, which supports the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
But, one weekend alone is not enough to address such an important cause. We want to bring the focus back to Breast Cancer Awareness Month by sharing the story of Gina Althoff, one of our incredible group fitness instructors currently battling Breast Cancer.
Gina's journey is a powerful message about the importance of prioritizing health and tackling challenges with unwavering strength and courage!
Gina's Story
Gina is a long-time group fitness instructor at O2 who's taught some of our most loved (and most intense) classes, like Les Mills BodyPump and BodyCombat. Gina is healthy and strong—the person most of us in the studio strive to be!
But she never could have imagined that a sore spot under her arm would have led to a life-changing diagnosis.
Initially, Gina ignored this small, sore spot for a couple of months as she focused on healing her torn meniscus and handling life's daily demands. But when she decided to investigate the spot further, it had become a hard lump the size of a pea. Outside of the gym, Gina is a nurse by profession. Her decision to investigate and perform a self-check was critical, as a routine mammogram would have never detected the lump hidden in her lymph nodes.
Six months since breast cancer has become her reality, Gina is still fighting through moments of disbelief, anger, and uncertainty. She shares, "It’s all-consuming both physically and emotionally. I eat, breathe, and sleep breast cancer. When I look in the mirror, I wonder who this person is and what she’s done with the woman I used to be. I want to scream with frustration at the loss of control over my life."
Despite the internal doubts and lingering fear of what's still to come, Gina knows there are still many lessons to learn and changes to go through. She is leaving behind her old self and becoming a stronger woman shaped by the tough journey ahead.
Facing the unknown future with bravery, Gina’s story serves as a powerful reminder of how breast cancer affects many people's lives. Through her experiences, she inspires us to face our fears, prioritize our health, and recognize the importance of early detection to help fight for a future free of fear and uncertainty.
"Gina is an inspiration to me because of her resilience, faith, passion for group fitness, and for living life unapologetically!"
- Midori Angevine, Regional Studio Director at O2 Fitness Clubs
Gina encourages others to take control of their health by doing regular self-exams and screenings, knowing that early detection is crucial in the fight against breast cancer. She says, "Fear of the unknown is scary, but fear ‘in’ the unknown is even scarier - early detection is truly the key!"
Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month will soon come to an end, we hope Gina's story will remind us to continue to take action in our daily lives to prioritize our health, support all of those affected by this disease, and stand united in the fight against Breast Cancer!
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