South Lake Tahoe cancer survivor Connie Phillips inspires with fitness and friendship at Sierra Athletic Club

Remission. It’s a place filled with hope as much as it brings anxiety. But that’s where Connie Phillips is and she won’t mince words when she says every day she lives fully aware that she may die.
“And that’s why I see everyone around me as an inspiration,” the 48-year-old South Lake Tahoe breast cancer survivor says. “They may not think they are, but they are.”
If you’ve visited Sierra Athletic Club, located in the South Shore’s Tahoe Keys lately, you’ve probably been the recipient of a contagious smile from Phillips, the gym manager. A Stage 3 breast cancer survivor, Phillips has been a cheerleader and true inspiration to hundreds of women in South Lake Tahoe.

A passion to help others
In 2006, Phillips purchased a Curves Fitness franchise and began a journey of providing women with a ladies-only venue in South Lake Tahoe where they could transform their lives. Many of her Curves members were at-risk in terms of their health with challenges such as aging, obesity, osteoporosis and diabetes. Phillips was always there for them with an encouraging smile and an open ear for members looking to improve their lives and future health.
One of those Curves members was Ronee Eggers, an 69-year-old former fashion model. In 1994 she had her left armed amputated to stop a blood clot that had moved to her brain. Nothing was quite the same after the surgery. She fell into long bouts of depression, sad, lonely and not understanding what had happened. She moved to South Lake Tahoe in 2005 from Oroville, where the clean air and high altitude would be a nice change of pace, she said. It took her some time to adjust and at first didn’t quite feel comfortable with the locals, that is until the day she walked into Curves and met Phillips.
“From that day on everything changed. My attitude, the way I was perceived and the way people looked at me,” she said of her three years as a Curves member. “It was the first time where I felt I was back to my real self - before my arm was removed.”
Phillips said owning Curves was an amazing experience because it was a place where 300 members met, encouraged each other along the way and became lifelong friends. Before she was even diagnosed with cancer, she saw Eggers as “a woman who had it in her to keep on trying, to keep going and to be healthy,” she said. “(Owning Curves) was one of those times where I knew I had found that one thing that brought women of all different lifestyles and backgrounds together and that we all contributed to making a difference.”

Paying it forward
But what she had established with Curves would soon be turned upside down. In 2008, Phillips was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and was facing the fight of her life. The tables turned as her members rallied together to return the support and encouragement to their biggest fan.
Desiree Wright, who has lost over 175 pounds with Phillip’s guidance, is one who stepped up to support Phillips during her time of need.
“Connie was always there for all of us, and now we needed to return the favor,” said Wright. The members all took turns preparing meals for Connie and her family for more than six months as she endured treatments and surgeries.
As the intensity of treatment increased, Phillips decided to sell the Curves franchise so she could concentrate on her battle for life. In all, she underwent 16 chemotherapy treatments, 32 radiation treatments and endured nine surgeries. She lost both of her breasts.
The Curves membership was there for her every step of the way, taking her to appoints locally or to U.C. Davis, picking up things she needed, doing necessary paperwork for the business and preparing meals daily for she and her family. Later she would learn that the Curves membership had a signup sheet to help her and the sheet was always filled with volunteers.
“They never missed, they even had backups,” she said. “It was the most amazing thing to go through, having these women there for me. I was so weak going through this and it was the members and my family who gave me the strength. They are the inspiration. I may have had cancer and gotten through this, but these people are my heroes.”
Four years after being diagnosed Phillips has continued to beat the odds with perseverance and a positive mental attitude.

As fate would have it ...
The Curves Fitness facility had since closed and Phillips said she keeps seeing former members around town, some of whom had reverted to their previous bad health habits and sedentary lifestyles, since they had lost their gym. Phillip’s genuine care and concern for her past friends and members led her to Sierra Athletic Club, to see if it might have a good environment for her ladies at risk. After touring the facility with owner, Joe Pettit, he was so impressed by Phillips smile and friendliness that he asked her if she would be interested in managing the gym.
“It was obvious to me after five minutes, that Connie’s bright smile and positive attitude, would be a perfect fit for our gym, complementing our reputation for great customer service,” said Pettit.
In the 10 months Phillips has been at Sierra, she has recruited about 50 of her past Curves members, including Ronee Eggers, and has influenced many more long-time Sierra members with he grace and attitude.
“When Connie left because of the cancer and after it had closed it was as if a part of me died,” Eggers said. “But when she called and told me she was at Sierra and asked me to come in, I had to check it out. What I want is to be able to get back to that place that she and the Curves members brought me to: My old self (before the amputation).”
“When people go to a gym they go there to feel better. So when you walk in and you see Connie, she makes you feel great. She’s glad to see you and lets you know with her great attitude and welcoming smile,” said Pettit. “From the moment you walk in the door she puts our customers in a place that is welcoming and inviting. We’re grateful to have this energy and vibe that she brings.”

Walking the Walk
Join Phillips on a two-mile Community Cancer Walk July 29 to benefit the South Lake Tahoe Cancer League. This walk will begin at Sierra Athletic Club parking lot at 2 p.m., and will run from the shores of Tahoe and back, followed by a barbecue, silent auction, and entertainment. Barbecue tickets are $10 per person. All proceeds will go the the South Lake Tahoe Cancer League, which provides local cancer patients with financial assistance as well as support and aid throughout their treatment.
For information call Sierra Athletic Club at (530) 542-4426.

Photos:
Jeff Munson/ Tahoe Mountain News
Cancer survivors Jerry Priday, a retired South Lake Tahoe fireman and Connie Phillips, manager of Sierra Athletic Club. Phillips is the former owner of Curves and is in remission for stage 3 breast cancer. Priday of South Lake Tahoe is also in remission for thyroid cancer and regularly works out at the health club.

Connie Phillips, manager of Sierra Athletic Club and Ronee Eggers, a former member of Curves and now a member of Sierra Athletic Club, are good friends and have helped each other through each others trials.