Way To Go: Kiera Golon, Sayville

Sayville seventh-grader Kiera Golon put the discipline of yoga to use in raising $1,600 for local children with autism.

The Sayville Middle School student coordinated the second annual Hope for Autism Yoga Day for the Land and Sea Sports Club in Westhampton Beach, a nonprofit dedicated to providing recreational and therapeutic sports programs for autistic children.

Kiera held the event in the backyard of the law office of Joseph A. Hanshe during Sayville Summerfest in August. In her inaugural effort last year she raised $2,000.

Kiera, 12, who was helped by classmate Alicia Rivera, said she started the fundraiser after winning a $100 scholarship last year at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School in memory of teacher Erin Halliday Duffy, who died of cystic fibrosis in 2007. The essay she wrote for the competition outlined what she would do with the scholarship money.

Laura Gallagher of SKY Education & World Community Center in Sayville was instructor for the three-hour yoga classes. Admission was $8 for adults and $5 for kids.

To raise more money, Kiera sold water bottles, bracelets and stress balls for $1 each and held raffles using items donated from local businesses.