Latest news with #RoadtoRecovery
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cyclist overcomes spinal injury, rides GAP trail on trip across U.S.
OHIOPYLE, Pa. – As Todd Gladfelter pedals past wildflowers in the Laurel Highlands under a canopy of trees blooming above the Great Allegheny Passage, the world almost feels normal. The 64-year-old from the Reading area has spent the past 31/2 years battling his way back to 'normalcy' after a fall from a roof left him with a broken neck and an incomplete C3-5 spinal cord injury in 2021. Doctors told him that he'd never walk again. Gladfelter and his wife, Cindy Ross, weren't about to settle for that diagnosis. Avid outdoor adventurers who met while hiking the Appalachian Trail, they weren't ready to give up their favorite hobbies. Now Gladfelter, Ross and a group of friends are riding portions of the Great American Rail-Trail to showcase the importance of accessible trails as part of Todd's Road to Recovery program. The 150-mile-long Great Allegheny Passage is one section of the 3,700-mile-long GART, which runs from Washington, D.C., to Seattle. The GART connects more than 150 existing rail trails, but there are still large gaps along it where cyclists need to ride on public roads. Gladfelter isn't willing to do that, but he and Ross hope to ride up to 2,000 miles during journeys over the next year and a half. 'We're taking the summer off because he can't get too hot,' Ross said Sunday during a 32-mile ride from Ohiopyle to Whitsett. 'We'll come back and do Indiana, Iowa and Illinois in the fall – and maybe Nebraska. Next year, we'll go back and finish out.' The GAP section isn't just the first portion of the ride – it's also one of the couple's favorites, they said. Ross is riding the GAP for the third time, while Gladfelter had completed it once prior to his injuries. 'It's an unbelievably nice trail,' he said. 'It couldn't get any prettier, especially this time of year. The trilliums are blooming.' For the couple, there's more to love about the GAP than the stunning views, they said. 'We live right by the Schuylkill River Trail, but I had to spend half the year fighting to get a handicapped toilet put in because he'd have to go to the bathroom and he couldn't,' Ross said. 'They really have that in place (on the GAP). There are handicap-accessible bathrooms everywhere, and the surface of this is fabulous.' Gladfelter uses a three-wheeled cycle that allows him to sit and pedal. It has electronic assistance that he says helps him ride an extra three to four miles per day. The group plans to ride the C&O Canal section, which runs from Cumberland, Maryland, to Washington, D.C., next. Gladfelter had to buy a mountain bike trike for that portion of the GART, because the C&O Canal section can have grass on the trail that could make it nearly impossible to ride with his existing trike. That's not a concern on the GAP, which has a crushed limestone surface over most of its 150 miles. Despite winding through the Laurel Highlands, the path has an average grade of less than 1%, making it an easy ride. 'This trail is phenomenal. It's such a great trail,' Ross said. 'This is my third time doing it, and I forget how much variety there is, from the viaducts and the tunnels to the waterfalls. (On Saturday in Somerset County), we probably rode past 20 different little waterfalls.' Gladfelter has worked hard to rehabilitate his body, and he can walk up to a mile per day with a cane, a walker and, at times, without assistance. Despite daily rigorous physical therapy sessions – both with medical staff and at home – walking is difficult and often painful for Gladfelter. 'When I'm walking with my walker or a cane, I have to focus on the roots and the rocks, and I'm looking down,' he said during a break outside Ohiopyle. 'My body's stiff when I'm upright. When I'm on a bike, for the most part, my body's pretty relaxed. Something like this, I can look around and I can see stuff. 'It almost feels somewhat normal,' he said. 'I'd rather be on a bike – I miss the maneuverability of standing, moving and jumping off – but this is all right.'
Associated Press
25-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Aflac and the American Cancer Society Team Up to encourage proactive health care and early detection
Teams to focus on preventive wellness by addressing physical, emotional and financial toxicity related to a cancer diagnosis COLUMBUS, Ga., Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated (Aflac), the leading provider of cancer insurance in the United States and Japan, is teaming up with the American Cancer Society (ACS), the leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision of ending cancer as we know it — for everyone. Together, they will shine a light on the ways early cancer detection can support individuals as they navigate the physical, emotional and financial challenges associated with the disease, particularly as data from the most recent (2024) Aflac Wellness Matters Survey found that 77% of Americans delay important health checkups,1 and 60% admit to avoiding important health and cancer screenings altogether,2 with millennials leading the pack. Throughout the collaboration, ACS and Aflac will work together to empower employees to take proactive steps in managing their health to enhance workforce well-being and assist in mitigating health care costs. This addresses key findings in the 2024-2025 Aflac WorkForces report that show 70% of employees experience at least some anxiety about a serious medical diagnosis,3 and 51% of Americans are unable to pay $1,000 out of pocket in the event of an unexpected illness or injury.4 Aligning with Aflac's core mission to provide benefits to policyholders before, during and after a cancer diagnosis, ACS programs and services will be shared, particularly benefitting those who have experienced a cancer diagnosis and are facing potential financial and logistical challenges. These include the ACS's Road to Recovery® program, which offers free rides to cancer-related medical appointments, and information on Hope Lodge®, a free patient lodging program for cancer patients seeking treatment outside of their community. 'As the leading provider and pioneer of cancer insurance sales in the United States, and with a 70-year record of providing valuable benefits and service to our customers, we know that early detection can help lead to better physical, emotional and financial outcomes,' Aflac Incorporated President Virgil Miller said. 'Aflac and the American Cancer Society are closely aligned on this mission to achieve better health outcomes and mitigate the financial toxicity of a major health event. We are pleased to join them to better serve families facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.' The collaboration will enable ACS to bring awareness to its Employee Toolkit efforts, including a new webpage that will provide on-demand access for employers to valuable cancer prevention-related content. Aflac associates will be able to share these tools with clients across the nation to provide for their employees. Each toolkit will include helpful information such as cancer screening guidelines, with facts and educational materials for individuals who have already been diagnosed with cancer. 'We're pleased to be working with Aflac in this mutual effort to help deliver greater access to our services and programs to those who need it the most,' said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. 'Cancer can't be fought alone. It takes a great deal of community support and access to resources to overcome the obstacles that many cancer patients face every day.' As an added level of commitment, Miller will initiate the first CEOs Against Cancer chapter in Georgia, where Aflac and ACS are headquartered, joining a group of prominent CEOs across the nation. Miller will accept a two-year term as chair of the newly created organization and serve as a spokesperson for the chapter. In 2023, Aflac updated its signature cancer policy, enhancing benefits to address changes in the health care system as well as benefits related to outpatient care. The company also established a new system wherein policyholders calling to file a first-time cancer claim are provided the option to speak directly with a team of professionals specifically trained to handle these often-emotional claims. Learn more about this important work at ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.5 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024) and Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2024) for 11 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at or Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at under 'Sustainability.' 2 2024 Wellness Matters Survey Overview, page 20 3 2024-2025 Aflac Workforces Report Executive Summary, page 52 4 2024-2025 Aflac Workforces Report Executive Summary, page 46
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Aflac and the American Cancer Society Team Up to encourage proactive health care and early detection
Teams to focus on preventive wellness by addressing physical, emotional and financial toxicity related to a cancer diagnosis COLUMBUS, Ga., Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated (Aflac), the leading provider of cancer insurance in the United States and Japan, is teaming up with the American Cancer Society (ACS), the leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision of ending cancer as we know it — for everyone. Together, they will shine a light on the ways early cancer detection can support individuals as they navigate the physical, emotional and financial challenges associated with the disease, particularly as data from the most recent (2024) Aflac Wellness Matters Survey found that 77% of Americans delay important health checkups,1 and 60% admit to avoiding important health and cancer screenings altogether,2 with millennials leading the pack. Throughout the collaboration, ACS and Aflac will work together to empower employees to take proactive steps in managing their health to enhance workforce well-being and assist in mitigating health care costs. This addresses key findings in the 2024-2025 Aflac WorkForces report that show 70% of employees experience at least some anxiety about a serious medical diagnosis,3 and 51% of Americans are unable to pay $1,000 out of pocket in the event of an unexpected illness or injury.4 Aligning with Aflac's core mission to provide benefits to policyholders before, during and after a cancer diagnosis, ACS programs and services will be shared, particularly benefitting those who have experienced a cancer diagnosis and are facing potential financial and logistical challenges. These include the ACS's Road to Recovery® program, which offers free rides to cancer-related medical appointments, and information on Hope Lodge®, a free patient lodging program for cancer patients seeking treatment outside of their community. "As the leading provider and pioneer of cancer insurance sales in the United States, and with a 70-year record of providing valuable benefits and service to our customers, we know that early detection can help lead to better physical, emotional and financial outcomes," Aflac Incorporated President Virgil Miller said. "Aflac and the American Cancer Society are closely aligned on this mission to achieve better health outcomes and mitigate the financial toxicity of a major health event. We are pleased to join them to better serve families facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis." The collaboration will enable ACS to bring awareness to its Employee Toolkit efforts, including a new webpage that will provide on-demand access for employers to valuable cancer prevention-related content. Aflac associates will be able to share these tools with clients across the nation to provide for their employees. Each toolkit will include helpful information such as cancer screening guidelines, with facts and educational materials for individuals who have already been diagnosed with cancer. "We're pleased to be working with Aflac in this mutual effort to help deliver greater access to our services and programs to those who need it the most," said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. "Cancer can't be fought alone. It takes a great deal of community support and access to resources to overcome the obstacles that many cancer patients face every day." As an added level of commitment, Miller will initiate the first CEOs Against Cancer chapter in Georgia, where Aflac and ACS are headquartered, joining a group of prominent CEOs across the nation. Miller will accept a two-year term as chair of the newly created organization and serve as a spokesperson for the chapter. In 2023, Aflac updated its signature cancer policy, enhancing benefits to address changes in the health care system as well as benefits related to outpatient care. The company also established a new system wherein policyholders calling to file a first-time cancer claim are provided the option to speak directly with a team of professionals specifically trained to handle these often-emotional claims. Learn more about this important work at ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATEDAflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.5 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024) and Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2024) for 11 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at or Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at under "Sustainability." 1 2024 Wellness Matters Survey Overview, page 182 2024 Wellness Matters Survey Overview, page 203 2024-2025 Aflac Workforces Report Executive Summary, page 5242024-2025 Aflac Workforces Report Executive Summary, page 465 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report Media contact: Jon Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@ Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@ Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Aflac Sign in to access your portfolio
