Mission Bay was a beehive of activity last Saturday from one end to the other. More than 500 individuals clad in purple T-shirts participated in the annual PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer.
“We are at the PanCAN walk representing my mom who passed away three years ago from pancreatic cancer,” said Madison Shobe. “We’ve been doing this for six years.”
Sidelined with a bad back was a woman who was there to support the walkers and to represent a loss in the family.
“My brother’s wife Cecile passed away last year,” said Kathy Kinkade. “During her illness, my brother Randy was in constant contact with a case worker from PanCAN Patient Services. He said she was always available to help.”
This nationwide event is held annually on April 29, the PurpleStride funds to end pancreatic cancer. The money raised at these events goes to groundbreaking research and programs like PanCAN Patient Services. This year’s walk at Mission Bay brought in $14,000.
WORLD TAI CHI DAY
Meanwhile, a different kind of event is happening at the other end of the bay, because April 29 is also “World Tai Chi Day.” Practitioners of this ancient eastern art gathered in parks, recreation centers, and beaches all across the globe to participate in this annual event. Representing San Diego was the Oom Yung Doe School of Tai Chi in Pacific Beach and owner/instructor Mike McKay.
“In honor of World Tai Chi Day, we are here to demonstrate two of the key components of our unique style: Chi flow and oxygenation,” explained McKay.”
McKay demonstrates the flowing moves while explaining how these ultra-slow-motion techniques can create a calming effect on the mind, body, and spirit.
“Moving your hands slowly you begin to form a circle,” McKay instructed, “It’s important to inhale as deep as you can through your nose. Fill your lungs as much as you can, then exhale as you bring your hands down, then pull your stomach in, and breathe out nice and slow.”
As bystanders watched, some joined in on the free session; one visitor from Las Vegas put his stamp of approval on the demonstration.
“I had a hip replacement last year,” said 78-year-old Glen Moses.” I took a class like this and it was great. I used those slow moves as a way to warm up when I played pagsickleball.”
“Our style of Oom Yung Do translates to, ‘Mind Body Way,’” said McKay. “We focus on an individual’s mental, physical, and spiritual development. I had issues with confidence, and after just a few months my confidence improved greatly; it evolved into a peace of mind, and I felt like it would be nice to teach others the benefits of Tai Chi. So I opened my first school and teaching the internal arts has been my life’s work.”
