The 2009 Inspiration Gala raised $1.27 million for the BC Cancer Foundation and colorectal cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency last night, as nearly 400 guests dined and donated during the emotion-filled, sold-out event.
The Gala, emceed by CTV news anchor Pamela Martin, was held at Vancouver's Rocky Mountaineer Station, which was transformed into a winter wonderland by a veteran volunteer committee, co-chaired by Karen Fleck, who lost a close friend to colorectal cancer, and Christine Jennings, whose father-in-law was diagnosed with colon cancer just last week.
The evening included a cocktail reception, formal dinner, live and silent auctions, mystery boxes and a raffle, followed by entertainment from the Vancouver TheatreSports League who were joined by two special guests - both B.C.-born 2010 Olympic hopefuls - ski-cross racer Julia Murray, daughter of former Crazy Canuck Dave Murray, who died of cancer, and bobsleigh team member Steve Larsen, who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympic games in Turin, Italy.
Donations reached the million-dollar mark when Gala guests were challenged to match $500,000 in donations already committed to support colorectal cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency. Donors who stepped up to meet the challenge included TELUS with a $100,000 gift and two colorectal cancer patients who, though absent from the evening's festivities, donated $50,000 in the hope that their gift could leverage others. Funds from the live and silent auctions and the raffle raised the evening's grand total to $1.27 million.
BC Cancer Agency medical oncologist and clinical researcher Dr. Hagen Kennecke described passionately how Gala proceeds will fund critical research initiatives at the BC Cancer Agency. "Your donations will make a major contribution towards colorectal cancer research at BC Cancer Agency. Over the past 10 years major progress has been made in surgical, radiation and systemic treatments. But more is needed, as colorectal cancer is still the second most common cause of cancer death in Canada. Our research now is focused on personalizing colorectal cancer therapy by identifying the cancer mutations and subtypes and conducting clinical trials to find targeted treatment for each of them."