Abstract

The purpose of this report is to explore the Darkside Rising CIC Strength in Cancer project. Aimed at women only, the Strength in Cancer Project is a 26week strength training programme that is highly individualised, with sessions capped at 4 women to ensure they receive focused, personal coaching and exercise programming. This report examines data collected by Darkside CIC and the University of Lincoln in relation to the impact and receipt of the project, where the specific aims were to:

1. Assess service uptake, accessibility, adherence and attrition over the 26-week
programme, comparing online and in-person streams.
2. Assess perceptions of strength training as a woman, and as a woman with cancer, including
how this changes over the course of the programme.
3. Assess how perceptions of being ‘strong’ influence the cancer recovery journey.

In order to assess these aims, routine data collected by Darkside Rising CIC was analysed
alongside data captured through semi-structured, one-to-one participant interviews.