By Dongyun Kwon
A special pilates session for a good cause turned out to be a great success.
Yarra Valley-based pilates instructor Vicky Kamakaris and her client Penny Napoleone co-hosted Pilates 4 Parkinsons to raise funds for Shake It Up, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to researching Parkinson’s disease to slow, stop and cure the condition.
Both co-hosts lost a parent to Parkinson’s disease and felt a desperate need to raise awareness of the disease.
They decided to hold a pilates event which is one of the ideal activities for Parkinson’s sufferers to assist in slowing the progression of the disease.
Held at Punt Road Wines, Coldstream on Saturday 26 April, the fundraiser succeeded in attracting more than the target participation and funds; 120 participants and $6500.
Ms Napoleone said two co-hosts were thrilled with the outcome.
“It was a huge success. We raised over $6000 (with having) 120 participants. The weather was fine, and we had lots of fun,” she said.
“Participants arrived at 10.30am, and we ran a 45-minute pilates class outside at the winery. And straight after that, we went out to the back garden, and everyone had some food and a glass of champagne and chitchat with friends.
“We didn’t expect it to become as big as what it was.”
Ms Kamakaris and Ms Napoleone decided to run the event again next year after getting lots of positive feedback from the participants.
Ms Napoleone said it was important to raise awareness about Parkinson’s.
“We can’t believe that we raised over $6000 (comprised of) ticket sales and donations from a lot of people, which was amazing,” she said.
“(We’d like to say) thank you to Punt Road Wines, which is technically my family business, who supported us to host this event.
“We are also grateful for all the participants and those who couldn’t attend but donated money.”
