Cubby the dog delights McMaster students while yoga and a young rescuer spread goodwill

A free chair-yoga class in Burlington collects donations for the Compassion Society of Halton, a 13-year-old in Western Australia swam four kilometres to call emergency services after his family was swept out to sea, and Cubby, a 10-year-old therapy Old English Sheepdog, visits McMaster students weekly to offer comfort.

A free chair-yoga class in Burlington, a student-favourite therapy dog at McMaster University, and a youth rescue call from Australia are three modest stories of care and resilience. The yoga class donates collected items to the Compassion Society of Halton. In Western Australia a 13-year-old swam to shore and called emergency services after family members were swept out to sea. At McMaster, Cubby the Old English Sheepdog visits campus weekly and greets students despite recent surgery. Key details: - Rhoda Reardon donates her time to lead a chair-yoga class at The Fitness Firm in Burlington; sessions run Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon with about 14 to 18 participants, and attendees bring items for the Compassion Society of Halton. - Rhoda is a retired occupational therapist who teaches a gentler, chair-based yoga class focused on stretching, balance and function; she updates participants by email about needed donations. - In Western Australia, 13-year-old Austin Appelbee swam four kilometres after his mother and siblings were swept about 14 kilometres out to sea and then called 000 for help. - Rescue crews found the family after dark; they had survived roughly eight hours in the water, according to the report. - Cubby is a 10-year-old Old English Sheepdog from Dundas who completed therapy-dog training and visits McMaster's Hub for informal weekly one-hour visits; she had surgery last March for cancer that resulted in the loss of one hind leg and a hip. Summary: Each of these items has a local or personal impact: the Burlington chair-yoga sessions regularly collect donations for a local food bank, Cubby’s weekly visits create moments of calm and conversation for students on campus, and the Australian family was located after a 000 call from their son following a difficult night at sea. Undetermined at this time.