‘One-thousand miles and counting’: reflections on the trail to recovery

ABSTRACT

While some studies have explored the effectiveness of self-directed participation in online support groups for survivors of cancer after treatment, there is a dearth of focus on participation in nontraditional support groups for extended periods of time, whether the individuals have ongoing treatment, metastatic cancer, or show no evidence of disease. This study is the second instalment of a longitudinal investigation into the benefits of a hiking programme for cancer survivors, four years after the original investigation. The purpose of the study is to determine whether participation in the hiking program contributes to members’ subjective sense of wellbeing and quality of life over the course of time.

KEYWORDS:

• Leisure
• hiking
• cancer
• longitudinal

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Justin Harmon

Justin Harmon, PhD, studies the role of music in life course development and recreation interventions post-diagnosis of cancer. When not teaching or conducting research, he can be found in the woods with his dog, buried in a book, or at rock show.