Yoga class to kick off breast cancer fundraising campaign

Shannon Sugrue felt restricted. After a full mastectomy in 2013, she said she was fearful — afraid to move, afraid of pain. 

Her lack of movement fed itself and allowed scar tissue from her surgery to grow and attach itself to internal organs, restricting her movement even more. 

“I wish I knew then what I know now,” said Sugrue, who will lead a free outdoor yoga class on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. at Tanger Seaside Outlets, Rehoboth.

Yoga is a great way to help a person open up, to open the tissues in the body that become tightly wrapped and cause stiffness, tightness, restriction. Yoga helped Sugrue, “move from a place of fear and contraction to a place of power and movement,” she said. 

Movement and freedom are the types of things Sugrue, a certified yoga instructor and massage therapist, hopes to help people find at the yoga class.

She agreed to teach the class at the Outlets to open more people to the possibilities for healing as well as just more balanced living.

While Sugrue is a certified certified oncology massage therapist and has taught classes for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition where she also serves as a breast cancer mentor to people undergoing therapy for breast cancer, the Tanger Outlet yoga session is for everyone. 

The class will consist of a very simple series of movements, said Sugrue. People do not have to have any experience in yoga to participate.

Sugrue often asks clients who come to her massage practice if they have ever considered doing yoga. Sometimes she hears, “Oh I tried that once and I didn’t like it.” 

There are so many different kinds of yoga and different instructors, she said. She hopes the event at Tanger becomes a jumping off place for some people to start exploring what type of yoga might be right for them. 

The event will be a morning of inspiration, connection and community that gives participants an opportunity to celebrate, reconnect, remember and honor in an outdoor setting, said Amy Schnerr, general manager at Tanger Outlets.

The spirit of the event is inclusive and positive, and it is open to people of all experience levels, not just cancer survivors.

The event is the kickoff to the annual #TangerPink breast cancer fundraising campaign that runs the entire month of October. Shoppers can purchase a $10 Pink Card that they can use an unlimited number of times once a day at each participating store  for 25 percent off a single item.

“Shannon is the perfect choice to lead the yoga session at this exciting event,” said Schnerr.  “Not only is Shannon a highly-qualified yoga instructor, but she also brings the unique perspective of a person who has had her own cancer journey.” 

Money raised during  October through the #TangerPink campaign is donated to non-profits serving the fight against breast cancer. Locally the recipient is the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. Nationally, the recipient is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

"We are proud to continue to support the fight against breast cancer, and to join forces with our valued shoppers and retailers across the United States to raise awareness and much-needed funds for research and prevention," said Steven B. Tanger, CEO of Tanger Outlets. "We are fully committed to supporting the hardworking scientists and doctors funded by the BCRF, with the goal of finding a cure to a disease that has affected so many families."

“Our goal at the Pink Yoga Event is to set a tone of solidarity as we start off our month-long fundraising campaign,” said Schnerr continued.  “We’re so pleased Shannon will be a part of that!”

Tanger Rehoboth’s free yoga kick-off event will begin at 10 a.m. in the plaza area next to Tanger Seaside Shopper Services. 

Participants can practice yoga, hear about the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, tour the women's mobile health screening van, honor survivors, enjoy healthy refreshments, and buy Tanger PINK cards. 

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The first 100 attendees will receive a free #TangerPink yoga mat, and everyone can enter to win door prizes, including the grand prize gift basket filled with merchandise from Tanger Outlet stores.

For more information about the Pink Yoga Event at Tanger Rehoboth Seaside, visit www.tangeroutlet.com/rehoboth/events/9.