Giant steps in
fighting a killer

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Bettylynn Szal knows the horrors of cancer.
As a 19-year-old in 1982, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a chronic condition characterized by enlargement of the lymph nodes.
A quarter-century later, Szal is healthy. In fact, with friend Kelly Perri, she co-owns the It Figures fitness club for women at 3330 Grant Ave., in the Grant & Academy Shopping Center.
"You can make it. There is life after cancer," Szal said.
The fitness club owner, who opened shop in July 2003, has long had an interest in charity work. Her club has supported The Smile Train, which provides free surgery for foreign children who have cleft palates.
Though she has battled cancer and employed another cancer survivor, Paula Cruz, Szal wanted to do more. That opportunity arose when Mary Jean McCauley walked through the doors a few months ago.
McCauley, a 55-year-old resident of West Torresdale who works as a registered nurse at Nazareth Hospital, joined It Figures for a specific reason.
"I needed to get in shape to do a hike," she said.
It wasn’t just any old hike to McCauley. She was gearing up for Hike for Discovery, an adventurous fund-raising program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The charity offers hikes in four locales — Maui, the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park and Yosemite National Park. A nature lover, McCauley chose the Grand Canyon site.
McCauley wanted to participate to honor her father, who was diagnosed two years ago with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
John McCauley, who was treated at Nazareth Hospital, is alive and well at 87, but the chemotherapy treatments took a toll. Still, he maintained a great attitude, repeatedly stating, "It can only get better."
"That’s why I hike, so nobody else has to go through that," his daughter said.
Mary Jean McCauley entered the "Lost it at the Club" contest at It Figures. She won a free membership by dropping 18 pounds, lowering her body fat percentage, taking fitness classes and completing circuit training.
McCauley donated the $300 prize to her Hike for Discovery fund-raising campaign. That was a mere drop in the bucket, since all participants are required to raise $4,000.
To raise the rest of the money, she sold "hope" earrings and personalized hiking-boot footprints that she’ll carry on a metal ring on her backpack during the hike. She also accepted personal donations. Already, she has passed her goal and raised about $4,200.
It Figures is contributing in a big way. The fitness club is giving half of membership initiation fees to McCauley’s effort during a two-month period ending May 1. It is also accepting donations for the cause.
On a related note, the club is offering Nazareth Hospital six free six-month memberships for cancer patients and survivors. Their caretakers receive discounted memberships.
"Cancer patients can feel pretty low physically and mentally, and we want to encourage them to get better," Szal said. "This is a place they can come to and feel they’re getting a lot of support. I’m looking forward to working with them."
Terrie Cannon, the charge nurse of Nazareth’s infusion center, will pick the patients who will receive the free memberships. She cared for John McCauley during his illness.
Cannon, pointing out that many cancer patients are debilitated by the disease, doesn’t expect anyone to go to It Figures and do 300 crunches or bench-press twice their body weight.
Instead, she’s looking for people who can handle low-endurance workouts.
"Exercise is important. You’ve got to get moving," said Cannon, adding that the patient will also benefit from the camaraderie, vitamins and nutrition counseling at It Figures.
McCauley will travel to the Grand Canyon from May 3-6. She’ll hike three and a half miles down and up the Arizona gorge.
In preparation, she’s been among 20 people from the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas who’ve been working out in the Pocono Mountains with a professional trainer every Saturday for the last few months.
The 20 participants have a cumulative goal of raising $100,000. It’s the second year of the hike, with organizers hoping it becomes as popular as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, which grooms people to run marathons, complete triathlons and finish a 100-mile bicycle ride.
Also, McCauley has been getting in shape at It Figures, and feels ready for the hike. On nights she didn’t want to work out, she would think of cancer patients undergoing life-saving treatments.
"I couldn’t have done it without this place," she said.
That’s what Szal likes to hear. She sees her fitness club as a place that changes women’s lives.
It Figures, according to Szal, is not an intimidating place. In fact, new members don’t even have to be fit to join.
The cancer patients who will soon be joining the membership rolls will receive full assessments and individualized fitness levels and challenges.
"They’ll get very personal attention," Szal said. "We’ll create the best program for them. It will be like each individual is the only member here." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com

If you’d like to help . . .

Anyone wishing to contribute to Mary Jean McCauley’s Hike for Discovery can make checks payable to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and send to It Figures, 3330 Grant Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19114. Contributions are 100-percent tax-deductible.
For more information, call It Figures at 215-464-3004.