Maple Tree Cancer Alliance (MTCA), the world's largest provider of free exercise oncology services, today announced it has received a multi-year grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation to expand access to evidence-based exercise programs for underserved and minority cancer patients.
The grant will fund the development of comprehensive exercise oncology programs at UCLA Harbor in Los Angeles and Parkland Health in Dallas, specifically designed to serve minority populations who have historically faced barriers to accessing these proven therapeutic services.
"This partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation represents a crucial step toward addressing the stark inequities in cancer care access," said Dr. Karen Wonders, Founder and CEO of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance. "Exercise oncology has been proven to reduce treatment side effects, improve quality of life, and decrease healthcare costs, yet access remains inequitable across communities. This funding allows us to directly address these disparities."
Program Components
The comprehensive initiative will include:
- Individualized Exercise Oncology Sessions: One-on-one programs tailored to each patient's specific treatment phase and physical capabilities
- Bilingual Resources: Translation of all patient materials into Spanish to eliminate language barriers
- Community Education: Monthly workshops conducted in both English and Spanish for patients and their caregivers
- Implementation Research: Study of program effectiveness to inform scalable expansion strategies for underserved communities nationwide
Addressing Critical Healthcare Disparities
Research consistently shows that minority populations experience poorer cancer outcomes and face significant barriers to accessing specialized supportive care services. Exercise oncology, which has been demonstrated to reduce treatment-related fatigue, improve physical function, and enhance emotional well-being, remains largely inaccessible to these communities due to cost, location, and cultural barriers.
"The National Breast Cancer Foundation's investment enables us to study effective implementation strategies that will inform our ability to reach more communities that need these programs most," added Dr. Wonders. "Our goal is to create a replicable model that can be scaled to serve underserved populations across the country."
Since our founding in 2011, Maple Tree Cancer Alliance has served more than 20,000 cancer patients across the country. All of our programs are offered completely free of charge to patients, thanks to generous grants and private donations—including our newest partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which is helping us expand bilingual services to underserved communities in Los Angeles and Dallas.
Our published research shows significant improvements in patient outcomes after just 12 weeks in our exercise oncology programs:
- 18.2% improvement in cardiovascular endurance
- 16% improvement in muscular strength
- 27% reduction in emergency room visits
- $2,100 per patient in health care cost savings
Behind these numbers are real stories of hope, healing, and resilience. This link will take you to a patient testimonial we shared with our supporters for our Annual Giving Campaign last year: https://www.mapletreecanceralliance.org/2024-annual-campaign/
Here are a few other testimonials:
Tina, Breast Cancer Survivor – Dayton, OH
“Before I started at Maple Tree, I could barely walk across my living room without needing to rest. After just a few weeks, I felt stronger, more confident, and more in control of my body. The exercise program gave me something cancer had taken away—hope.”
Maria, Latina Breast Cancer Patient – Los Angeles, CA
After facing language and access barriers for months, Maria enrolled in Maple Tree’s newly launched bilingual program at Harbor-UCLA.
“I didn’t know exercise could help with cancer. Now, I come twice a week, and I feel better every time. I tell other women in my community—this is for us, and it works.”
James, Prostate Cancer Survivor – St. Louis, MO
“Maple Tree was a lifeline. Not only did my strength improve, but my anxiety and sleep got better too. I never imagined I'd look forward to workouts during treatment, but here I am. And the best part? It didn’t cost me a dime.”
These stories reflect what we hear from patients every day—exercise changes everything. Yet, access to this care remains deeply unequal, especially in minority and underserved communities. That’s why we’re so passionate about expanding these services through strategic partnerships and research-backed implementation.
About the Partners
The National Breast Cancer Foundation is a leading organization dedicated to advancing breast cancer awareness, education, and research while providing support to those affected by the disease.
UCLA Harbor and Parkland Health were selected as partner sites due to their commitment to serving diverse, underserved populations and their strong community ties within minority communities.
About Maple Tree Cancer Alliance
Founded in 2011, Maple Tree Cancer Alliance is the world's largest provider of free exercise oncology services to cancer patients. Operating across 101 locations in 25 countries, MTCA serves thousands of individuals annually through evidence-based exercise programs tailored to each phase of the cancer journey. The organization also conducts research, provides workforce training, and advocates for exercise oncology as standard cancer care.
For more information about Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, visit www.mapletreecanceralliance.org.
About National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®
Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Helping Women Now® by providing early detection, education, and support services to those affected by breast cancer. A recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating for 18 years, NBCF provides support through their National Mammography Program, Patient Navigation, breast health education, and patient support programs. For more information, please visit https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/