The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
~Mahatma Gandhi
I am returning to the empty, echoing , long neglected digital rooms of this blog to talk about something I am really excited about.
In celebration of my 37th birthday this year, I have decided to commit myself to a very special challenge.
Earlier this year, I began practicing Bikram yoga - an intense series of 26 yoga postures performed for 90 minutes in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% humidity.
In the 37 days leading up to my birthday I will be challenging myself to take 37 Bikram Yoga classes.
My goal…
…is to raise $3700 in 37 days in support of an amazing institution – the King George VI Rehabilitation Center (KG6)in my home town of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
I believe the greatest gift we can give ourselves is to be a gift to other people, so with that in in mind I will be using this birthday challenge as an opportunity to be of service.
About KG6
KG6 is a home for children with physical disabilities. It is the ONLY home of its kind in Zimbabwe and is an incredible place. Please watch this video to learn more about KG6.
How you can Help KG6
If you are so moved, you can help me to celebrate my 37th journey around the sun by making a donation to the students of KG6. No matter the amount, it all helps!
If you can’t donate, then just send me lots of good energy and pray that I stay strong and healthy and determined throughout the days of the challenge.
Why I Chose KG6 for this challenge
I grew up near KG6. In fact my parents home is just a few blocks away. I knew what it was, drove by it all the time and often saw the students in the neighborhood, but I never went inside, and as a teenager, I knew very little about what went on there.
17 years since I moved away from home, it came back on my radar when the film Music by Prudence won this year’s Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject.
The film is about a remarkable young woman, Prudence Mabhena, who was born with condition called arthrogryposis, which causes deformed joints. She lost both legs, and it is difficult for her to use her arms. Abandoned by her parents, she was raised by her grandmother and received both her primary and secondary education at KG6. At only 21 years old, she is now a teacher there.
Prudence is an incredibly gifted singer and leads the band Liyana which began as a class project a KGG6.
Earlier this year I met Prudence and Ross Williams, the director of the film at a screening here in NJ.
It was the first time I’d seen the film and I was moved to tears. I was so inspired by the personal story and the challenges that this remarkable young woman has not only endured, but overcome.
Prudence also performed a few songs, and when she sang I was swept away by the sheer power of her voice and all the emotion it seemed to truly rain down on the entire room.
I introduced myself to her. She was stunned to learn that I grew up right around the corner from KG6, yet here we were meeting in Metuchen, NJ of all places. Small, small world. I loved her instantly. She is beautiful, bright, down-to-earth, funny and all together lovely.
My mother, who is a retired school teacher will be volunteering at KG6, teaching composition and creative writing there. Go Mama. She is a fantastic teacher and I know she will be gift to those students as much as they will be a gift to her.
Following my Mom’s example of service, it seems to make perfect sense that I donate the money from my Birthday Yoga Challenge to KG6.
The Plan
- Between August 29th, and October 4th, 2010 I will take 37, 90 minute Bikram yoga classes. These 37 sessions will be dedicated to the students of KG6.
- I will ask everyone I know (and lots of people that I don’t) to support my challenge by making a donation to this amazing organization.
- The donations will go to Friends of King George VI, a US registered 5o1c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
- 100% of the money raised will be used to pay school fees and living expenses for KGIV students.
- I will blog throughout my challenge right here on The Sublime Passage.
How You can Donate
If you’re interested in making a donation, visit my Challenge Page on CrowdRise.com : http://www.crowdrise.com/37daybikramchallenge/fundraiser/suenyoni
If you’d prefer to mail a check, please send checks to the US representative, Scilla Wahrhaftig, 7514 Kensington St, Pittsburgh PA 15221. All checks should be made out to Friends of King George VI. In order to allow me to track my progress, please be sure to note on your check that the money is for my challenge, and then send me an e-mail so I can add your donation to my total (sue [at] concioustechnology [dot] net).
Please donate any amount that you can, no matter how small. $3, $7, $37 or more! It would take just 100 of my closest friends donating $37 each for me to reach my goal. 
So, I’m leaving for the first class of the challenge. Bring on Day 1!
Learn More
If you’d like to learn more about KGIV, Prudence Mabhena and Liyana here are some additional links for you to peruse.
KG IV Website: http://www.kinggeorge6.org/
Music By Prudence Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJKbqwA5VY
Music By Prudence Website: http://www.musicbyprudence.com/
KGIV YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/liyanakg6
