Free CrossFit Classes Help 320+ Cancer Survivors Thrive

Cancer survivors are lifting weights, carrying groceries, and hugging their grandkids again, thanks to a free fitness program expanding across Michigan.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is opening three new CAPABLE sessions this spring in Farmington Hills, Grand Blanc, and Detroit. Each location offers 12 weeks of CrossFit classes designed specifically for cancer survivors, no previous exercise experience required.

The program meets three times weekly and teaches functional movements like squatting, lifting, pulling, and pushing. Each survivor works at their own pace, whether that means lifting five pounds or fifty. Some walk while others jog, but everyone does the same exercises scaled to their abilities.

Dr. Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer designed CAPABLE in 2019 to help survivors meet the American Cancer Society's recommendation of 150 to 300 minutes of weekly exercise. Since then, 320 cancer survivors have completed the program across seven Michigan gym locations.

The results go far beyond physical fitness. Participants report doing everyday tasks they couldn't manage during treatment, from playing with grandchildren to hauling shopping bags. They're sleeping better too.

The Ripple Effect

Research published in January 2026 shows that CAPABLE participants who meet exercise guidelines experience less insomnia and better sleep quality. The study drew from both the CAPABLE program and the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors cohort, one of the largest studies examining outcomes for African American cancer survivors.

Dr. Beebe-Dimmer and her team track multiple health markers throughout the 12 weeks, including body composition, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. They also provide nutrition guidance to help survivors build habits that last long after classes end.

The spring sessions start March 2 in Farmington Hills, March 16 in Grand Blanc, and April 27 in Detroit. All classes are free. Participants need medical clearance from their oncologist or primary care doctor, and they must be adults not currently in a regular exercise program.

Any cancer survivor qualifies, regardless of cancer type. The program welcomes survivors at any point in their journey, helping them discover their physical potential after diagnosis.

More than three hundred people have already proven that cancer doesn't have to define what their bodies can do.