Cancer treatment may have an end date. Support shouldn’t. 
Years before becoming a cancer survivor himself, Ramon Nayar volunteered with Flashes of Hope, an organization that created portraits for children facing cancer and their families. The experience introduced him to children he describes as the embodiment of courage and bravery. It also gave him a perspective he would draw upon when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer in 2015.
Since then, Ramon has experienced cancer from nearly every angle: survivor, volunteer, speaker, donor and caregiver. When his father was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in 2019, Ramon experienced firsthand how difficult it can be for individuals and their loved ones to navigate the many needs that exist beyond medical treatment.
Those experiences now inform the work of the Ramon Bueno Cancer Support Foundation and its partnership with the YMCA of Greater Michiana. Together, they are expanding support for cancer survivors through LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA and beyond.
A Love Letter That Became a Mission
The Foundation’s name itself tells part of the story.
“The Ramon Bueno Cancer Support Foundation is basically a love letter to my grandparents,” Ramon said. “They exposed me to the power of serving the community at a very young age.”
Today, the Foundation’s mission is to identify, connect and elevate innovative cancer support programs and events for all communities. Ramon believes the support available to someone affected by cancer shouldn’t depend upon where they happen to live.
That philosophy has led the Foundation to support cancer organizations and initiatives across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and to do more than provide funding.
Ramon sees the Foundation as an ambassador and connector, bringing organizations together, sharing successful approaches across communities, helping programs tell their stories and encouraging new donors, volunteers and partners to get involved.
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA was a natural fit.
Finding Strength and Community Through LIVESTRONG
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is a free, 12-week physical activity program designed to help adult cancer survivors regain strength, energy and community. Participants meet twice each week with YMCA instructors trained in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilitation exercise and supportive cancer care. Exercise is tailored to individual needs and can include strength and endurance training, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility and balance.
Ramon appreciates that participants enter the program from very different starting points.
“You might have former professional athletes. You might have people who have never picked up a dumbbell in their life,” he said. “These are all opportunities.”
During the first six months of 2026 alone, the Foundation’s investment helped the YMCA of Greater Michiana:
Deliver five LIVESTRONG cohorts serving 38 cancer survivors;
Provide 45 personal training sessions for survivors awaiting placement into a cohort;
Continue weekly Stay Strong classes at all four YMCA of Greater Michiana locations; and
Offer eight alumni social gatherings, along with ongoing outreach to help graduates stay connected.
Building a Broader Network of Support
The Foundation’s investment also supports staff development and certifications, community outreach and partnerships that connect healthcare providers with community-based resources for cancer survivors. Together, these efforts strengthen the YMCA’s ability to support people during and after cancer treatment.
Ramon describes the Foundation as an “engaged donor,” looking for opportunities to participate in programs and events through instruction, speaking and other hands-on initiatives.
Ramon plans to participate in an upcoming LIVESTRONG cohort himself, giving him the opportunity to experience firsthand the program his Foundation supports. His wife recently served as a guest yoga instructor for a LIVESTRONG group at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA. She has specialized training in yoga for people affected by cancer, and Ramon hopes the experience will encourage more fitness and wellness professionals to pursue similar specialized training.
Resilience Reimagined
The Ramon Bueno Cancer Support Foundation’s tagline is “Resilience Reimagined.” Ramon doesn’t view resilience as pretending every day is easy. Cancer brings unknowns, setbacks and victories, and the path is rarely a straight one. Instead, he defines resilience simply: “It’s the willingness and commitment to keep getting up and keep showing up.”
It’s that same resilience he hopes LIVESTRONG participants discover in themselves. He wants people completing the program to recognize “just how much they’re capable of,” to not sell themselves short and, above all, to “really embrace the whole notion of community.”
His message to anyone newly facing cancer is equally straightforward.
“You are not alone,” Ramon said. “You’re not going to go through this alone. You don’t need to go through this alone.”
If you or a cancer survivor in your life could benefit from LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, learn more about the program and how to get started here.
