Yoga Born Studios Open House to Raise Energy, Funds for Paralympics Ski Hopeful

The following is a submitted release

South Windsor's Yoga Born on Saturday will use the positive energy of yoga to help make a dream come true for Andrew Haraghey, a 16-year-old adaptive ski racer with cerebral palsy who is vying to compete in the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

“Yoga Born is dedicated to making lives better each day, using the energy of our yoga practice to help people achieve their dreams,” said Dawn Greenfield, owner of Yoga Born Yoga and Healing Arts. “We feel fortunate to be able to help Andrew raise funds so he can make his dream of skiing in the Paralympics come true.”

Haraghey, a student at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, races with the AbilityPLUS Alpine Race Team at Mount Snow, VT. He just returned from a U.S. Ski Association summer training camp at Mount Hood, OR, where he worked with some of the top race coaches in the country.

“This camp was an important step towards making it onto the US Adaptive Ski Team,” said Haraghey. “Without the support I’ve received from area businesses and the community, I never would have been able to afford to go.”

“The continued outpouring of support for Andrew’s dream is truly remarkable,” said Andrew’s mother Sheryl Haraghey. “Dawn at Yoga Born took an immediate interest in Andrew. She is such an inspirational person, I feel very lucky to have met her, and especially lucky that she has made this amazing effort on Andrew’s behalf.”

Yoga Born has dedicated the month of July to helping raise funds so Andrew can continue on his quest.

In addition to donating $2 from the sale of each Yoga Born water bottle, the studio is selling colorful cards containing an inspirational message. Each card is one piece of a puzzle which when complete will become a work of art, filling a large frame displayed in the entryway of the Yoga Born studio. “With each donation towards Andrew’s dream, another piece of the puzzle will be placed in the frame,” explained Greenfield. “We’re offering the Open House on Saturday July 21 to help get the word out about Andrew!”

There will be free introductory Yoga classes beginning at 11:30 a.m., with complimentary Thai massage starting at 1 p.m..

“At Yoga Born we take the lessons of calm and acceptance that we learn on the yoga mat and apply them to the challenges and triumphs of every day life, so what better than to use our yoga practice to help Andrew triumph in the face of his challenges,” continued Greenfield. “We’ll keep taking donations and selling inspirational cards until the frame is filled and the puzzle is complete.”

For detailed information about Andrew, his quest for the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team 2014 Paralympics, upcoming fundraising events, and what’s next on Andrew’s journey visit www.andrewraces.com.

More information about Yoga Born, their fundraising effort for Andrew and Saturday’s Open House can be found at www.yogaborn.com or by calling 860-432-5678.