Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary Hosts Inaugural Event

Namaste, indeed! WOMAN.ca could not be more impressed with event co-chairs Sandy Braz and Vanessa Ferrone. They are really onto something enlightened, truly transformative. On Sunday, May 3 2009, one thousand people in one studio will take part in Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary's Yoga in Motion event - a four-and-a-half-hour yoga marathon - to raise $500,000 for life-saving breast cancer research at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital.

The inaugural event is designed for yoga enthusiasts and beginners alike, with a series of yoga sessions to be led by some of Toronto's most well-known instructors. And, for those who want to support their participating yogis, Yoga in Motion will also feature inspirational speakers, live entertainment, a food emporium and vendor marketplace, silent auction and fabulous prizes.

The event's co-chairs Braz and Ferrone embraced yoga into their lives after each facing breast cancer, and witnessing how yoga empowers and energizes cancer patients and survivors. Ferrone had a scare last year when she found a lump in her breast (it didn't turn out to be cancer), and Braz's mother bravely battled breast cancer six years ago and won.

I wanted to bring yoga and breast cancer together in an event that would create connections among participants, and encourage all women to be proactive in their breast health while raising money for leading breast cancer research at Mount Sinai, says 28-year-old Sandy Braz.

Yoga in Motion participants are asked to raise at least $500 each, with fundraising support tools provided through the Yoga in Motion website. All proceeds will support groundbreaking breast cancer research at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, where most recently, Principal Investigator Dr. Jeff Wrana and his team unveiled new technology that can analyze breast cancer tumours to determine a patient's best treatment option, and predict with up to 80 per cent accuracy a patient's chance of recovery.

Breast cancer devastates more Canadian women than any other cancer, says Ian Taylor, a PhD candidate at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute and a member of Dr. Wrana's research team. The advancement in breast cancer research since the mid-1980s has been substantial and this would not have been possible without generous donor support. Researchers, health-care professionals, donors and the community each have their part in improving breast health.

Unfortunately, breast cancer has touched so many of us, our friends and family. No one is immune to this devastating illness which is why WOMAN.ca encourages you to be proactive and challenge yourself to a 4 1/2 hour yoga marathon that combines fun, fitness and fundraising for a great cause!

When: Sunday May 3rd.

Where: Downsview Park Hangar

What: Yoga in Motion is a fun event at any fitness level for people with any level of experience in yoga.

How: Once you register, you will be invited to fundraise for breast cancer research. Ask your friends and family to sponsor your 4 1/2 hour yoga marathon using our handy online personal fundraising pages. All funds raised will go towards supporting life saving breast cancer research at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Spring into Motion: If you register between April 1st and May 1st all that they ask is that you fundraise at least $250 for breast cancer research. Fundraising tip: ask 10 friends for $25 and you've reached your goal. But that's not all ... registrants who achieve a $500 individual fundraising goal will be entered into a draw and eligible to win a fantastic trip for 2 to the Riviera Maya!

Please visit www.yogainmotion.ca for more information.

Si Si Penaloza
		About the author:
		Si Si has cultivated strong ties with editors, producers and publishers at all major Canadian media outlets. She is a seasoned print, radio and broadcast specialist. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Bowdoin College in Maine, Si Si moved to Manhattan to study Film at New York University. Her strengths lie in contextualizing relevant content for a broad audience. She's driven to stay competitive and at the top of the market - commissioning exclusive features and launching bold initiatives.
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