A YOGA event to highlight the issue of human trafficking and raise funds for its victims made more than £1,500 earlier this month.

The event, organised in Chepstow and Yorkley by Kim Spencer, was part of a global campaign called Yoga Stops Traffick (YST) with 88 events taking place in 22 countries.

Kim said: “YST is an annual, worldwide community yoga event raising awareness of human trafficking and much needed funds to support its victims.

“The recent events held in Yorkley and Chepstow together raised an amazing £1,523, £600 of which was raised during the year at a charity yoga class in St Briavels, run by local yoga teacher Lorna Kennedy on Wednesday mornings.

“Funds will go to the Odanadi Seva Trust, a grassroots organisation in Mysore, south India.

“I have visited Odanadi, our son volunteered there for a year and my husband and I have very close connections via Adventure Ashram, the charity that now runs YST.

“In 2017 we held an event in Yorkley for the charity, which has rescued and rehabilitated more than 12,000 women and children, carried out 422 brothel raids, educated tens of thousands of children, men and women about sexual exploitation, returned 1,380 missing children to their families and brought 385 traffickers to justice.

“I’m not a teacher myself, but yoga teachers Carolyn Thomas, Lisa Hebbron and Di Worrall took part in the Yorkley event and Ali Rose, Lorna Kennedy, Kari van Eden, Sam Williams, Christine Cox and Alice Jomain were all involved at Chepstow.

“They are all based and in and around the Forest and Wye Valley, teaching everywhere from Viney Hill to Raglan, and from Chepstow to St Briavels. Other teachers not helping on the day provided raffle prizes and helped with the events via their classes.

“We were overwhelmed with the support we had from yoga teachers, participants and helpers and are delighted we have been able to contribute to such a worthwhile cause whilst enjoying our yoga. Thank you to everyone who came along and to those who made donations in other ways”

To find out more about the campaign, visit Facebook/Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Yoga Stops Traffick. There is also a donation page at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/yogastopstraffick