Someone in America gets a cancer diagnosis every 15 seconds. That’s roughly two million people every year walking into a doctor’s office and having their world shift. The numbers are staggering, and the chances are good that if you haven’t been touched by cancer personally, someone you care about has been.
That’s exactly why Cancer Champions exists—and why the organization is ramping up visibility during June’s National Cancer Survivor Month. Based right here in Sacramento, Cancer Champions isn’t just another support group sending sympathy cards. Instead, it offers something more tangible: free online resources covering fitness, nutrition, mindset work, and real community connections for people actively battling the disease and those in recovery.
The organization’s real power, though, shows up in stories like Mark Bertolero’s. Diagnosed with blood cancer last March, Bertolero tapped into Cancer Champions’coaching program and got paired with support that didn’t feel clinical or distant. His coach helped him rethink his diet, rebuild his exercise routine, and navigate the psychological weight of treatment. The result? A remarkably quick recovery and something that might seem small but means everything: he got his life back. Fast enough that by September, he was setting ambitious goals. By last fall, Bertolero completed a 100-mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe—a milestone most healthy people never attempt.
Now here’s where the full-circle moment kicks in: Bertolero is becoming a Cancer Champions coach himself. He’s channeling his own experience into supporting the next wave of newly diagnosed patients, people who are terrified and need someone who’s been through it to say,“Yeah, it’s hard. And you can do this.”
Carri Ziegler, Cancer Champions board member, emphasizes that the group runs specific programming year-round. Cancer survivors who’ve had a mastectomy can access targeted exercises designed to rebuild strength post-surgery. Someone battling nausea can browse hundreds of recipes that actually sound edible. It’s the kind of granular, practical support that gets overlooked in the big picture but matters like crazy when you’re sitting in your kitchen at 3 a.m., exhausted and hungry and unsure what your body can handle.
If you’re in the Sacramento area (or anywhere, since resources are online), Cancer Champions also hosts community events worth checking out. The Folsom Firecracker Race is coming July 4, and the Moonlight Run in Davis launches July 18—both family-friendly, both featuring timed races and fun runs for people at any stage of their cancer journey. It’s not just about fitness; it’s about showing up, connecting, and remembering that you’re not alone in this.
Head to cancerchampions.org to explore the full roster of resources or sign up for coaching. The organization’s message is simple: wherever you are on your cancer journey, they’re there for you.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
