Saturday’s event was a huge success!
by Guest Blogger Rochelle Carrier
On Saturday June 21st around 8:30AM, EYC participated in Climb Out of the Darkness for the first time. This national non-profit event, started by Postpartum Progress in 2013, is currently the largest effort to raise awareness of perinatal mood disorders. In only one year, the event has grown from 177 participants to well over 1,000 climbers. In addition to that, the amount of money raised this year nationally more than tripled the amount from 2013.
Long-time yoga student Kathy Williams came out with her daughter and grand-daughter to support the cause (pictured right)!
Upon discovering this movement last fall, Beth Hayes knew right away that Memphis needs to be a part of it. As a Postpartum Doula, she knows better than most how easily women can fall prey to perinatal mood disorders. 1 in 7 mothers experience mood disorders after the stress and hormones of having a baby. Of those women, only about 15% seek treatment for pregnancy-related mental illnesses, such as postpartum depression. As a result, “suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the first year postpartum” according to Postpartum Progress.
Here’s a picture of me (at left) with EYC teachers Erin D.H. Williams & Laura Allen — proudly sporting our EYC gear. You can tell it was a good day!
The gravity of these statistics and Beth’s personal dedication to the cause are how Team Memphis was able to raise over $3600 and get almost 100 people out for the climb on Saturday morning, making us one of the largest climbs in the country. The weather was beautiful and families showed up in droves to unite the community and support a great cause.
Throughout the morning, photographer Erica Jancelewicz grabbed photos of all the adorable moments that inevitably happen when kids are having fun. She also carried the COTD “I’m back” sign, which offers women a chance to capture their bravery at surviving their own postpartum battles. The photos are sent to Postpartum Progress and archived as part of the event. There is no better way to support people who are suffering than saying “you are not alone, I went through this too.”
Here’s our EYC booth (left) where we displayed a small taste of what we offer mothers at every stage of pregnancy and motherhood.
Organizer Beth Hayes was thrilled with the turnout and emphatically reassured everyone that she would be back again next summer (June 20th, 2015) with the same zealous devotion to this cause. Team Memphis was one of the top 10 contributors to the $150K raised worldwide for Postpartum Progress.
I was so proud to be there as a representative of Evergreen Yoga Center and offer my encouragement to everyone that showed up for this great cause. Go Memphis!
-Rochelle Carrier