Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Team Phoenix helps cancer survivors cross the finish line

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Finishing a triathlon is a major accomplishment for anyone.

This week's everyday hero is helping women who've survived cancer achieve that goal.

Over 14 weeks of training, Aurora Health Care's Team Phoenix helps them trust their bodies again.

"Good work everyone," a coach calls out to dozens of women.

On a chilly winter night, the women are warming up at the Pettit National Ice Center.

"Make sure that back knee is what's bending. Straight down," a trainer instructs, as they start doing lunges.

This special session hosted by Aurora Health Care's Team Phoenix is a H.E.A.L. Survivorship Session, which stands for healthy eating, active living, and camaraderie for women who are cancer survivors. It's made possible through a grant from Kohl's Healthy Family/ American Cancer Society HEAL grant.

"There, perfect," the encouragement is shouted out.

There's some laughter along with the lunges, showing exercise can be fun and much more.

"It made me feel physically and emotionally strong again. It brought back a strong sense of self," said Cyndie Kaczmarek.

Kaczmarek and Nora Biersack are both breast cancer survivors.

"A triathlon had never been on my bucket list, but you know, why not try it?" Biersack said of when she first got involved. 

They joined Team Phoenix, the 14-week triathlon training program for women who've had cancer.

"And honestly, Team Phoenix has changed the whole trajectory of my life," Biersack said.

Both are alumni of the program who are back to help a new group of women this year.

After walking or running around the track, the women headed upstairs to learn about healthy eating.

Standing quietly in the back is program director Ilka Hoffins.

"I refer to Ilka as the administrative goddess," Kaczmarek said.

Hoffins laughed at the title, but she knows the importance of the work.

"People will say to us, you believed in me before I believed in myself," Hoffins said.

She's been on board since 2018, helping to grow Team Phoenix with alumni programs and different levels of training for the 14-week program.

"As long as you can walk a hundred yards, bike a hundred yards and swim across a pool, or be willing to take our swimming lessons, you can join Team Phoenix," she said.

Hoffins helps women regain their independence while also creating community.

"It empowers people to feel like we're all in this together," she said.

"Ilka is the grease that keeps this entire wheel, this entire machine running," Kaczmarek said.

It's a feeling of accomplishment that doesn't end when they cross the finish line.

"At the finish line, like I just had let go. And it was starting something new. A whole new chapter ahead of me," Biersack said.

Team Phoenix is in what Hoffins called the recruitment phase now. This year's 14-week program starts at the end of April. The in-person training sessions are twice a week, leading up to the sprint distance triathlon on July 28.

For more information, click here.

If you'd like to nominate an everyday hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].