Milestones - February 2018
We set up our Just Giving page to raise funds in memory of our angel Hannah Whitley, with the aim of using the money to do some good in the world.
Hannah met an amazing yoga teacher, John Brown, on her travels in India and when Hannah left us, her mum Nikki turned to yoga to help her through her grief and it became a lifeline. So, we raised an amazing sum of over £15,000 with our first fundraising push and had the bright idea that this should be used to fund free yoga classes for those who need but might not be able to afford them.
We think Hannah would love this idea.
Foundation Launch - May 2018
Our first main event, the Foundation launch, took place on what would have been Hannah’s 24th birthday on May 4th. All of Hannah’s amazing friends and family worked incredibly hard to sell tickets to the launch, source fantastic raffle prizes and sell the raffle tickets. The launch event itself raised a HUGE percentage of the initial £15,000.
Hannah’s birthday celebration was a wonderful evening, and we had an amazing video created where Nicki talks about some of the charity’s aims.
Continuing Hannah’s birthday weekend on May 6th 2018 we gathered in Bramhall Park walking and talking and raising awareness of our Foundation. Over in Spain friends and loved ones got together for a big family fun day and balloon release which raised over €1,015.
Hannah’s cousin Jasmine Sarah held an event in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
And there was a birthday tribute to Hannah in Sydney, Australia.
Weekly Yoga Session Launch - July 2018
We started our weekly yoga classes in earnest. John Brown donated both his time and incredible teaching to the Foundation to enable us to begin our weekly Tuesday night yoga and meditation classes with his enigmatic style and special meditation stories.
Media Coverage - August 2018
We were covered in Patient Magazine, the NHS Journal,with an article about how yoga can help with grief https://patient.info/health/physical-activity-for-health/features/can-exercise-help-with-grief
September 2018 - Maitri Ball
The Maitri Ball (Maitri being the Sanskrit word for loving kindness, or the love a mother has for her child) took place on 14th September at the Hallmark Hotel in Wilmslow. It was an incredible evening where we celebrated Hannah’s life and all we had achieved in the short time since losing her. We raised over £3,500 for the Foundation, and gained lots of awareness in the local community.
January 2019 - Valley School
We held our first outreach event at Valley School. Our wonderful teacher, John Brown, led a yoga class for some parents of children at this primary school during their pamper morning. The children have a range of complex and severe learning difficulties including autism, sensory, physical and medical needs, so time to relax and be mindful is absolutely vital for these parents. We were so happy and proud to help. We have continued to work with the Valley School and they are one of the partners we continue to work with.
April 2019 - East Cheshire Hospice
We held our second outreach event at East Cheshire Hospice in April. Rachel Manion provided her amazing yoga at a family day for people in East Cheshire who have a family member living with life-limiting illnesses, or who have recently been bereaved and we hope our yoga is going to be a regular support for them.
Restorative Yoga Sunday Classes - October 2019
Our Sunday evening restorative yoga classes launched with teacher Jane Butteworth
Jane has been on a yoga journey after her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2018. Jane had already been practising yoga and after his death trained as a yoga teacher and decided that she wanted to help others who were going through grief and trauma.
Gained Charitable Status - April 2020
The Foundation gained charitable status on 6th April 2020 – Registered Charity Number 1188931
Global Pandemic Online Classes - July 2020
In March of 2020 the world changed and the worldwide pandemic forced us to stop our classes as the UK entered lockdown. As online meetings become the norm we launched our Zoom yoga classes in July 2020. It was amazing to still be able to reach people and we are grateful to both Jane Butterworth and Jo Bentley for taking these classes for us.
Cocktails and Canvas - September 2021
A New Venue - October 2021
As the world started to come back to normality we met an angel in the form of Yogi Clare Broomhead at Yoga on the Edge who approached Nicki and said she would like to work with us. Clare has offered her beautiful studio and experiended teaching for our Sunday restorative yoga classes and so in October 2021 a new chapter of the foundation began.
Funding Classes at Maggies - November 2021
Afternoon Tea - May 2022
New Premises and New Day and Time - March to June 2023
We like to shake things up every so often, so at the end of March it was all change as our Yogi Clare Broomhead moved into new premises in Alderley Edge.
In June the decision was made to change the day and time of our restorative yoga class and so the Tuesday restorative yoga class was born.
