Talk of the Town: Let’s hear it for the girls!

Survivors. I admire them all. That’s what Cozette Acosta Smith is. And Diana Makes, Ardith Nelson and Sybil Collins. What do these women have in common? They are all cancer survivors and they all are united and committed to staying that way through fitness and healthy living.

Cozette, 49, a Quail Creek resident, is the owner of Curves in Green Valley. As a cancer survivor, she knows the importance of staying healthy by keeping fit through exercise and eating right. She has made it her profession to stay that way.

Cozette is the mother of three and grandmother of five.

“I want to stay well and watch them all grow up, too,” she adds. “Grandchildren and family keep you strong.”

Just recently she stopped in to see me in the Green Valley News’ office and to talk specifically about breast cancer.

Cozette informed me that four-time Grammy winner Olivia Newton-John has joined forces with Curves, the world’s largest fitness franchise for women, to launch an international campaign to distribute one million units of the Liv Aid, a breast self-exam aid that assists women to exercise breast self-exams correctly.

The initiative’s goal is to empower and encourage women to take responsibility for their bodies and breast health by launching a “first-of-its-kind” campaign beginning this month as part of “Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Newton-John credits her own breast self-exam as the first step to her eventual diagnosis of breast cancer.

Now, 16 years later, she has become a passionate advocate in creating awareness for early detection and encouraging women to take a more active role in their breast health.

“Being a breast cancer ‘thriver,’ I know that early detection is key to good breast health,” says Newton-John, whose cancer was diagnosed in 1992 and who is now cancer-free. “My wish is that all women age 20 and above perform monthly breast self-examinations. With the wonderful support of Curves, an organization whose mission statement is ‘strengthening women,’ I hope that this campaign will be the beginning to have the Liv Aid available to every woman in the U.S. and will become a staple in every medicine cabinet in the next five years.”

Considering that numerous studies show a lower percentage of cancer diagnosis in women who maintain a healthy body weight and practice regular fitness programs, Curves is the ideal partner to successfully get the Liv Aid into the hands of one million women in October.

Fitness is a great way to stay healthy, too, Cozette says.

“It’s not just about losing weight,” she adds. “We stress a healthy body inside and out first. Staying fit helps your body stay strong.”Curves membership in Green Valley swells to more than 500 members in the winter season. Cozette says that many members are currently going through various cancer treatments.

“Many are cancer free after treatment and just want to stay strong and fit,” she adds.

Green Valley resident and popular local storyteller, Sybil Collins, 85, is a longtime breast cancer survivor who is as feisty as ever, working out at least three times a week.

“I want to keep my youthful figure,” she jokes, “but basically, I want to stay strong enough to open jars.”

Local resident Ardith Nelson looks radiant and is not shy when she tells her story of battling cancer.

“I still have to be checked all the time, but coming to curves just makes me feel better about myself,” she says. “I get inspired by all the other women, too.”

Diana Makes from Sahuarita works out about five times a week and says that she “just loves it.”

“I had a real reality check when I was diagnosed with cancer and now my lifestyle has changed for good,” she says. “I look forward to coming here and working all my stress away and keeping cancer out of my life.”

Cozette says Curves recently introduced CurvesSmart, a new technology pioneered by Curves that offers a precision-designed workout, moment to moment feedback, and progress reports to keep members motivated while they work out.

She invites women who are interested in staying healthy and want to learn about the Liv Aid breast cancer program to visit her at Curves at 101 S. La Canada Dr., Suite 67 in the Green Valley Mall or call 625-0630 for more information.

rford@gvnews.com