Shelley Gilbert, second from the left, is the inspiration behind Fox Flow.
For Shelley Gilbert, yoga isn’t just a practice — it’s a way to take action. A Healdsburg, California resident living with Parkinson’s, she leads Bubble of Love Yoga, donation-based classes where all proceeds support Team Fox — The Michael J. Fox Foundation's (MJFF) grassroots community fundraising program where 100 percent of funds raised go directly to research.
Her passion quickly inspired those around her, and in 2023, friends and local leaders came together to launch Fox Flow, Inc. and host the first Taking Parkinson’s to the Mat yoga event at Bacchus Landing Cellars. What started as a small fundraiser with a $12,000 goal quickly turned into something much bigger. More than 200 attendees showed up, and with overwhelming community and sponsor support, they raised over $50,000. Shelley led a yoga session for more than 100 participants, and everyone enjoyed live music, dancing, food and wine.
One year later, Fox Flow was back at Bacchus Landing with an even bigger goal: $100,000 for Parkinson’s research. By the end of the event, they had raised over $80,000 — and with nearly $20,000 more from their participation in MJFF's Tour de Fox Wine Country Ride, they officially hit their $100,000 goal. Another incredible achievement powered by their growing community, proving that their impact continues to grow.
“Fox Flow brings satisfaction to me in so many ways,” said Shelley. “Increasing awareness of the need for research dollars through fun, community-building events is a joy. I feel proactive in my personal fight against Parkinson’s at the same time as I am educating the people around me.”
With every yoga session, every mile and every dollar raised, Fox Flow continues to grow, bringing more people into the mission and strengthening the community around Parkinson’s research — and you can join in the action this year. Visit foxflow.org for information on how to get involved.