This Saturday: Grand Rapids Community Invited to Day Event at Blue Bridge

Families, yogis and music lovers are invited to a fun day event at the Blue Bridge this Saturday, July 20, 10am-2pm. It’s called The Breathe Deep on the Blue Bridge fundraiser, benefiting the American Lung Association.

The event will feature a free 60-minute yoga flow on the Blue Bridge, beginning at 10:30am. Yoga will be led by Malina Adler from Inner Alchemy and all levels are welcome.

Other activities include breathwork, shopping local vendors, raffle prizes, music, refreshments and more. There is still time for community sponsors and vendors to get involved as well.

The event is organized by local lung cancer survivor Savannah DeGraaf, who was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was 22.

“Anyone with lungs can suffer from lung cancer or lung disease, and I think the Lung Association does a great job with providing resources. After graduating college, a doctor found I had a tumor on my left lung that had likely been there for quite some time. Initially, the plan was to remove the lower left lobe, but due to the cancer cells in my lymph nodes, the tumor's size and location, they removed the entire lung. It's been a journey, and I'm grateful for my health and activity, which aided my recovery,” DeGraaf said.

Regarding her life post-diagnosis, DeGraaf is grateful she had the Lung Association’s resources to help her through her journey by providing her with a sense of community throughout the process.

“Getting involved with the events and the community made me feel less alone,” she said. “That’s why this fundraising event is all to support the Lung Association and their mission to save lives and help people live a more healthy lifestyle. At the event, we’ll have lots of local vendors that support that healthy lifestyle, along with a yoga flow.”