HAVERFORD, PA. - March. 16, 2011 – On Sunday, May 15, 2011, supporters of Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) and yoga enthusiasts from around the region will come together on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to honor and support the nearly 200,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
Yoga on the Steps® (YOTS), the largest interactive yoga class in the city of Philadelphia, has been designed for people of all ages and skill levels. This one-hour yoga class serves as one of LBBC’s signature fundraisers and provides the financial resources for the organization’s education and support programs for women and families affected by breast cancer. LBBC is anticipating that this year’s event will be the largest Yoga on the Steps event to date.
“I am looking forward to another amazing morning practicing yoga with a thousand LBBC supporters,” says Jean Sachs, MSS, MLSP, LBBC’s CEO. “New participants and teams are getting involved and the grassroots fundraising initiatives are so creative. I feel so lucky to be leading the team that brings this event to Philadelphia each spring,” she said.
Lu Ann Cahn, host of NBC Philadelphia’s ‘The 10! Show,’ will once again serve as the event’s mistress of ceremonies. Cahn was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 19 years ago just as LBBC was being formed. Last year, Cahn was so moved by her participation that she promised to always attend annually on the third Sunday in May.
Yoga on the Steps is a half-day event that includes a one-hour outdoor yoga class and a Healthy Living Expo that takes place from 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Set against the Philadelphia skyline from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Jennifer Schelter, the well-known owner of Yoga Schelter, will create a union of personal connection for event participants as she leads a basic yoga class. The class will be accompanied by a rhythmic and therapeutic melody of chants led by Yvette Pecoraro and her musicians. Following the class, a light breakfast will be served and participants can learn more about goods and services that improve quality of life at the Healthy Living Expo, sourced with information about yoga and exercise, healthful foods and natural cosmetics.
“Yoga on the Steps is so much more than a yoga class,” said Schelter. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve tried yoga before or not. In order to be impacted by this event, all you have to do is show up.”
Monies raised during this event will help LBBC to continue its mission of empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life, regardless of educational background, social support or financial means. Yoga on the Steps’ mission is brought to life as the Philadelphia community unites to raise funds to support the innovative educational programs of LBBC.
“In the current economic climate, we depend on the support of our corporate, media and in-kind supporters and grassroots fundraising efforts of our event participants more than ever before,” continues Sachs. “Their generous contributions will enable us to increase our services and provide programs to tens of thousands of women affected by breast cancer at no or little cost.”
For more information, to register and to learn how to build a fundraising team for Yoga on the Steps, please visit yogaonthesteps.org or call (610) 645-4567. Visit lbbc.org for more information about Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) and the services provided to women and families affected by breast cancer.
Yoga on the Steps is presented by Novartis Oncology and Unite for Her.
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Living Beyond Breast Cancer, founded in 1991, is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Programs and services include: an educational website, lbbc.org; a toll-free Survivors’ Helpline, (888) 753-LBBC (5222); national conferences; free teleconferences; networking programs; quarterly newsletters; publications for medically underserved women; healthcare-provider trainings; recordings; and the Paula A. Seidman Library and Resource Center.
