COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- One Colorado Springs woman is proving there's life beyond a diagnosis. And she's going to great lengths to help others live it, too.

Here at the gym, pushing the limits is expected. Five days a week, this is home for Marilyn Munkres. Right now, she's training for the American Masters in weight lifting, and hopes to

Being a gym rat's nothing new - she's already scored gold in the Sydney Olympics for her age division.

You’d never know, 22 years ago she had breast cancer.

Years after beating it, a trainer convinced her to try Olympic weight lifting.

"I looked at him and said, 'I don't know what that is. Why don't you show me?' So he showed me, I fell in love with it,” said Munkres.

She's hoping to help others, and show them there is life after cancer.

"I formed this program, Lift4Life, so we could get 'em jump started, get their strength going, get their nutrition back, get self confidence and self esteem going," said Munkres. “I want to see how we train the beginners so they don’t get scared.”

Lift4Life allows those who've beat cancer to reclaim their lives again. For $335, survivors of any type of cancer can enroll for the eight-week class. That covers 1.5 hour session, twice a week. The program has begun accepting insurance, and there are scholarships available (www.lift4life.org).

Take Linda Fischlein, another breast cancer survivor.

"When I first started, it was really, really hard for me to straighten this arm because I had a mastectomy on my left side," said Fischlein. “This in particular makes me feel strong, like I can take on the world."

Trainer Jackie Berube, who's a seven-time national champ, and two-time alternate for Olympic weight lifting, tailor-fits the program for each person.

"The cancer drugs really leach bone density," said Berube.

Daniel Alire, who's recovering from Leukemia, started from square one.

"For a while, I was barely able to walk when I started treatment. I'd use a walker and a cane. It is rebuilding my strength a lot quicker than I thought it would," said Alire.

Confidence. Strength. Life, after cancer.

Munkres is also one of this year's Honorary Survivors for the Susan G Komen of Southeastern Colorado Race for the Cure. This year's festivities are September 11th and 12th. You can pre-register by going to www.krdo.com