Shana is passionate about using fitness as a tool to empower, connect, and support others. In 2018, she founded Bootcamp to Benefit, a movement class with full proceeds going to charity.
In March 2020, the pandemic created a need for human connection, and the frequency of Bootcamp to Benefit classes increased – first online, and now in person again – hallelujah! Since then, the community has moved together at 108 Bootcamp to Benefit classes, and has raised more than $113,000 for 53 incredible charities, listed below. Want to join a Bootcamp to Benefit? Check the schedule here and contact Shana to sign up or to collaborate for a cause you care about.
Bootcamp to Benefit Highlights and Numbers
- Most of the causes we supported were suggested by one of the participants, so they were near and dear to the hearts of the people in our community.
Here are the incredible causes we have supported since 2020, with links to their donation pages:
- Aboriginal Mother Centre Society – $630
- All My Relations – $415
- Alzheimer’s Society of BC – $2,200
- Avalon Recovery Society – $390
- Baby Go Round – $1,850
- Backpack Buddies – $66,634.55
- Battered Women’s Support Services – $1,000
- Beauty Night Society – $380
- BC Cancer Foundation – $1,320
- BC Women’s Health Foundation – $830
- Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland – $1,085
- Calgary Food Bank – $100
- Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan – $350
- Charleigh’s Journey – $1,835
- Covenant House Vancouver – $2,090
- Down Syndrome BC – $530
- Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre – $690
- Elizabeth Fry Society – $325
- Free Periods Canada – $375
- Gabriel’s Kitchen – $100
- Greater Vancouver Food Bank – $1,749
- Hilarity for Charity – $1,050
- iDream Library – $1,195
- Inclusion BC – $600
- Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society – $1,325
- Kick4Life – $595
- Mamas for Mamas Vancouver (BC flood relief efforts)- $1,400
- Minwaashin Lodge – $40
- Moose Hide Campaign – $120
- Native Women’s Association of Canada – $425
- One Girl Can – $895
- Ono Vancouver’s Community Meal Programs – $535
- Ottawa Food Bank – $250
- Project SOMOS – $1,035
- ProMOTION Plus – $846
- QMUNITY – $626.22
- RAVEN: Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs – $565
- Saleema Noon Empowerment Foundation – $650
- SWAN – $295
- Take a Hike Foundation – $915
- Tikva Housing Society – $404
- True North Aid – $140
- Urban Native Youth Association – $1,788
- Vancouver Black Advocacy & Therapy Fund – $345
- Vancouver Food Runners – $479
- Vancouver International Children’s Festival – $760
- Vancouver Women’s Health Collective – $1,976
- Velma’s House – $110
- Victoria Native Friendship Centre – $270
- Water First – $1,300
- Westside Family Place – $445
- Whole Way House – $979.37
- WISH – $1105
- Many phenomenal humans have taken part, including:
- Instructors: Shana Alexander, Danya Rogen, Asal Nikoopour, Natasha Lowe
- Breathwork/Mindfulness Practitioners: Lisa Yeates, Dr. Rotem Regev, and Amy Nagel
- Experts: Perimenopause 101 with Dr. Mikel Segal
- DJs: Danny Alexander and Carey Yuen
- Musicians: Erica Chan
- Class Partners
- One Space for All in support of WISH and Vancouver Women’s Health Collective
- Henry Goldman in support of Backpack Buddies
- Jacqueline Misshula in support of Baby Go Round Vancouver
- Oxford Properties in support of The Greater Vancouver Food Bank
- Asal Nikoopour in support of The Greater Vancouver Food Bank
- Cadence Cycle & Movement Studio in support of BC Women’s Health Foundation
- A host of representatives from the charities and causes who helped by promoting the classes, creating donation pages, sharing information, and taking the time to come to class and speak to the group. We are so grateful for your time and all that you do.
- Draw Prize and Gift Bag Donors:
- Glass Sipper
- RHN Heidi Seidman
- Lululemon
- Periwinkle Designs
- TreatSmarts
- Supported Soul
- Shop For Your Crew
- F45 Oak & Broadway
- For the Seconds
- This is Plant Curious
- Sin Queso
- Wah Wah Designs
- Hermit Goods
- Giving Sundays
- Nan’s Estate Garden
- Windfall Cider
- Body Energy Club – East 3rd Ave. and Broadway locations
- Ener-C
- Healthy Hippo Candy
- Athleta
- It’s My Momentum
- Plain Jane Skin Bar
- Miss 604
- Cadence Cafe
Stronger Together Vancouver and Workout for Women’s Day
In 2019, Shana and fellow local trainers Andrea Davis and Danya Rogen co-founded Stronger Together Vancouver, which uses the power of fitness to create community connections and support meaningful causes.
Stronger Together Vancouver seeks to unite the fitness community on International Women’s Day to support girls and women in the community through its signature fundraising campaign: Workout for Women’s Day. The campaign has raised more than $145,000 in 5 years!
On March 8th, 2019 studios and trainers all around Vancouver offered classes with proceeds going to three local charities. Together, they raised almost $7,000 for Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, Dress for Success Vancouver, and Cause we Care. In 2020, Workout for Women’s Day expanded to a week-long event raising $21,000 for Battered Women’s Support Services, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, and Girls Rock Camp Vancouver. 2021’s event was all Zoom, and $33,447 was raised for a wide range of charities, chosen by the donors themselves. Workout for Women’s Day 2022 raised $40,387 for Battered Women’s Support Services, Vancouver Women’s Health Collective, WISH Drop-In Society. Workout for Women’s Day 2023 raised $43,375.73 to Avalon Recovery Society, Everywoman’s Health Centre, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society, and Women’s Shelters Canada.
Check out the website here and follow Stronger Together Vancouver on Instagram @strongertogethervancouver. Workout for Women’s Day 2023 marks the 5 year anniversary of this awesome event – get ready!!