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Karma for a cause

Yoga classes will raise funds for pediatric palliative care

It’s a way of turning tragedy into hope.

On both New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve, in the space known as the ‘yellow room,’ Sarah Manwaring-Jones will be hosting two yoga classes by donation for a cause that is especially meaningful.

Four years ago, Manwaring-Jones, a yoga teacher and founder of The Yoga Studio in Squamish, became pregnant with her first son, Finn, born in April 2011. Tragically, within five days of his birth, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called spinal muscle atrophy (SMA), which affects the control of muscle movement.

“Sadly, there’s no cure and no treatment,” she explains. “The biggest piece of work was just supporting Finn to have a beautiful life in whichever way it could be.”

Finn lived for only three months and, during that time, the Palliative Care teams at Canuck Place in Vancouver and Sick Kids in Toronto – where they spent the last two months of Finn’s life with family – were incredible. “We were so grateful. The teams… were amazing. They really allowed us to be supported through a time of life when we really needed it,” said Manwaring-Jones.

“We learned through the time of Finn’s life how under-supported palliative care is. The people who choose to work in that field are working selflessly in so many ways.”

After Finn’s death, Manwaring-Jones and her partner Scotty Everett set up the FRE Fund, named after Finn’s initials, to raise money for pediatric palliative care. So far they’ve raised more than $10,000.

Her by-donation yoga classes will add to that total and are open to everyone. “They will be very accessible classes. If all people want to do is sit or lie on their mat, it’s really OK. We have some chairs too, so if someone from the older generation wanted to come and sit on a chair, they can be part of the class that way too.” The class on New Year’s Day in particular will be gentle and meditative.

“People can just turn up. There’s plenty of space. Everything they need is here, they don’t need to bring anything.”

All donations go directly to the FRE fund to support pediatric palliative care in BC. There will also be tea snacks and door prizes afterwards.

“Finn was our first son and he was such a gift in so many ways,” Manwaring-Jones said. “The memory for me is keeping alive the love and the joy that he taught us. I want this event to have an optimistic joy to it. It’s important to me that we create space for remembering. The remembering can be emotional but that doesn’t mean it’s not joyful.”

Classes are at The Yoga Studio at 37776 Second Ave., Squamish.

Wednesday, Dec. 31 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. will be morning yoga and meditation

Thursday, Jan. 1 from  5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. will be: Reflections and Intentions - Yoga for a New Year.

To make a personal donation to the FRE Fund or to donate a door prize, please contact Manwaring-Jones at sarahmanjo@gmail.com.

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