23 · Friday, March 12, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Youth camping at synagogue for Haiti Oakville's Tommy Tencer needs your help. The 13-year-old boy will be doing a 24-hour camp out Saturday to raise goods to send to Haiti. "Tommy just did his Bar Mitzvah on March 6. As part of this important coming-of-age event, he decided to organize a fundraiser as a Mitzvah or good deed," said his mom, Catherine, who has lived in Oakville 14 years. Tommy, who was born here, is in Grade 7 at Munn's Public School. He will be camping out in front of his synagogue, Shaarei Beth El, located at 186 Morrison Rd. He hopes people will stop by to donate tents, blankets or monetary donations to forward to relief efforts in Haiti. "I was absolutely astonished when my son told me on his Bar Mitzvah day, to personally donate 50 per cent of all money gifts received from members of the congregation and from his friends who attended the evening party to his cause," said Catherine. The following day, Tommy opened all the envelopes, added up the amounts and divided the total sum in two. Nearly $800 is now in his Camping for Haiti fund. "I know how much Tommy loves the money he received. He a 13-year-old boy and there are plenty of gadgets out there he is dreaming of buying," said his mom. "The $775 is a tremendous amount. "He has never had this kind of money in his bank account and now he's giving it away to help others. I'm proud of Tommy, very proud." While his Bar Mitzvah event made his mom proud, Catherine said, "His generosity tops it all." On Saturday, Tommy will be out, rain, snow or sunshine, camping on the front lawn of the synagogue from Saturday at noon until Sunday at noon. "Hopefully people will walk by and donate their old tents and such or perhaps money, or even just walk by to hand him a hot chocolate to encourage him," said his mom. Tommy Tencer Diva Night coming to Aradia On Friday, March 26, Aradia Fitness Oakville will present Diva Night 2010 -- an annual celebration of fashion, fitness and shopping. Diva Night is a showcase for women-preneurs, Aradia students and local businesses. Admission to the upcoming event is a bag of non-perishable food items, which will be donated to a local food bank. "Our local community is in need of support," says Aradia Fitness Oakville owner Jane Wilson. "Aradia Fitness Oakville is pleased to present Diva Night, a positive, inspiring event that benefits and serves the community." Aradia Fitness Oakville students will perform original pieces that have been created for Diva Night. Guests will see a fashion show by Silkeborg (www.silkeborg.ca) and an evening of shopping, featuring Stella & Dot, Barley Sugar Creations, Luscious Bubbles and Completely Tea. The event is for women only from 7-9 p.m. at Aradia Fitness Oakville, 393 Kerr St. For more information, visit 905844-7746 or visit www.aradiafitness.com. Yoga for mental health The Canadian Mental Health Association, Halton Region Branch (CMHA-HRB) and Inner Sanctum Yoga Studio's Wendy Sammut, is offering a yoga program for those experiencing mental illness. The program is offered weekly at no charge to those in Halton who have a lived experience with mental illness. Funding has been received from the Communities in Action Fund to support the offering. The program will run in Oakville from April 1 to June 3, 7-8 p.m. at Woodside Library, Program Room, 1274 Rebecca St. Participants are expected to complete a short survey at the beginning of the session and also at the end. For information, contact 905693-4270 to register. Space is limited.