Kelsey is a mindfulness practitioner, yoga, instructor, and speaker. With a background in psychology, she worked as a mental health counsellor  before completing her 200HR RYT yoga certification in 2015. In 2018, her life took a major shift when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

At 32 years old and a mother of two young boys, Kelsey went through a bilateral mastectomy, eight rounds of chemo therapy and 25 rounds of radiation, while chronicling her journey on social media. As Kelsey recorded her step-by-step cancer journey on Instagram, she created the hashtag #kindnesscures which encouraged people to go out into the world and do random acts of kindness. It was during this time that she discovered just how powerful her yoga practice was on the path to healing. Inspired to share her knowledge with others, Kelsey founded the Vibrant Yogi community. With online yoga classes, meditations and workshops, this group is an inspiring example of what can happen when we learn to make our well-being a priority. As a yogi, who had been through breast cancer herself, Kelsey understands the critical role that movement and mindfulness play in a persons well-being. Her doctors would tell her “Do Yoga!” but nearly all of the traditional, restorative yoga poses were extremely challenging post surgery/radiation. So, pairing with her passion for yoga, with her own experience, Kelsey started an online yoga class that she would provide free yoga session every morning at 10am.

This was done for 60 days straight. When it was over people wanted more so she created a program with an all access pass. This was perfect for those yogis who are also craving a creative way to get back to their mats! She started the Get One Give One program to make sure these women have access to a supportive community, without having to worry about cost during this extremely challenging portion of their lives. With every vibrant Yogi purchase, she donates one year Vibrant Yogi app membership to a woman going through cancer. She also takes one dollar of every membership monthly and puts it towards a program she created which involves making kindness boxes and hand delivering them to women with cancer.

During Kelsey’s chemotherapy, she did something called Cold Capping which is meant to preserve your hair during chemotherapy. Kelsey understands that when women go through chemotherapy and lose their hair, it's a loss of identity and femininity, along with the other stresses women go through during treatment. Cold capping is expensive and unattainable for many women going through treatment, so Kelsey has made it her mission to volunteer her time and proceeds to supporting and bringing cold capping to women.

Kelsey has recently learned that her cancer has spread to other parts of her body. She now has stage 4 cancer in her lungs, her kidney and her liver. Regardless of recent developments, she continues to spread kindness into the world and posts on social media about love, positively and the importance of creating memories with your loved ones to continue the legacy she began at the onset of her cancer journey. Her husband Ryan has taken the next 6 months off of being a grade 5 teacher to be with his family during this small amount of time Kelsey has left.
For all of the above reasons, it is why I nominate Kelsey Carignan and her family as they are most deserving of support to continue to put this kindness and positivity into our world.