Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a series of one-day events delivered by Trekstock, a charity supporting young adults with cancer in the United Kingdom. Methods: Data on physical activity, mood, perceived support, self-efficacy, and confidence to be active were collected at three time points: before, after, and 2 weeks following the Meet & Move events. Results: Ninety-seven young adults with cancer (mean age: 29 years, 35% still receiving active treatment) attended a Trekstock Meet & Move event and participated within the evaluation. Baseline data demonstrated that before attending a Meet & Move event, 27% (n = 23) of young adults reported feeling their cancer excluded them from engaging in exercise, 44% (n = 37) reported concern that exercise will cause pain or injury, and only 38% (n = 32) knew what exercise they could do. Data collected post-event and at follow-up indicated that Meet & Move had a positive impact upon attendees' self-efficacy and confidence to be active with more than half reporting they felt inspired after attending. There was also a significant reduction in reported worry that exercise may cause pain or injury and reported perception of feeling left out of exercise because of cancer (p < 0.05). Following engagement in the Meet & Move events, 45% of attendees had either signed up for an additional Trekstock physical activity program or initiated engagement in a new type of physical activity on their own. Conclusion: Trekstock Meet & Move events inspire and motivate young adults with cancer in their 20s and 30s to be active.
Keywords: cancer; physical activity; survivorship; young adult.