Catherine Sabiston, associate professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, has been awarded the 2016 William E. Rawls Prize Award for Excellence by the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Each year this prestigious award is given to a young, exceptional researcher whose work has significantly contributed to cancer control,” said Luc Tremblay, associate professor and the Faculty’s associate dean of research. “Dr. Sabiston’s research is instrumental to the optimal integration of physical activity with cancer care and survivorship.”
The $20,000 award is named after Dr. Rawls, past president of the former National Cancer Institute. It recognizes Sabiston’s innovative strategies to encourage cancer patients to exercise, helping them to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety and improving their overall health. One of her major initiatives, called ActiveMatch, is an online partnering system designed to help female cancer survivors find an exercise partner.
“We realized that women who had breast cancer had declining levels of physical activity because they lacked social support,” said Sabiston, also a Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health. “It’s important to build a sustainable program that women will enjoy, and we’ve designed ActiveMatch to work outside hospital and lab settings.”
Sabiston is also a co-principal investigator on ProjectMOVE, another strategy that helps women diagnosed with cancer customize their physical activity. “In this project, women diagnosed with breast cancer submit applications for small funding initiatives to build programs including yoga, Nordic pole walking and active gardening,” said Sabiston. “It’s about creating a program from the grassroots level and asking women what they want.”
In the future, Sabiston plans to expand ActiveMatch, ProjectMOVE and a broad range of other research initiatives.
“We need to make a difference in these women’s lives, in peoples' lives in general and make a substantial impact on society.”
Sabiston was presented with her award at a ceremony in Toronto on July 20, 2016.