Gala of Hope, March 2008

The Canadian Cancer Society's Gala of Hope was the event that I had been gearing up for for eight months now. Preparation for the black-tie fundraiser was full steam ahead with everything from the band to linen to the food to choose and order. The day itself was very stressful. I don't think I've been that stressed in a very long time. You see, even though I had a committee helping me with ideas and how to do/ask for stuff, it was really me doing everything. Apart from the decor, of course. Sheila and Joan, my decorating girls, did the most gorgeous job ever! They volunteered their time and services to transform the convention rooms at the The Grand Okanagan Hotel into an absolutely amazing ballroom for a champagne reception and 5 course meal banquet. It was stunning, sophisticated and tasteful.

As guests arrived decked out in ball gowns and tuxedos to the Champage reception (sponsored by Mercedes Benz), a jazz trio played in the background, and there was a definite buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air! Just before 7 the ballroom doors opened and there were murmurs and cries at the breathtaking design and style. The banquet dinner with wine pairings was delicious, although I didn't eat much as I was making sure things were running smoothly. The Band, called "The Famous Players Band", were AMAZING - nailed every cover song. So much so, that they sounded like the real thing! In between sets of music and dancing there were lots of fundraising games - diamond rings raffled, trips away to be won - all to raise money to support cancer patients and increase prevention awarenss. The volunteers that helped with the smooth running of the event were fantastic. It was a long evening and we didn't get cleaned up until 3 in the morning. Phew! The next day was a long one too - we had to break down the decor and furnishings and transport home to various locations around town. The whole event was a huge success and we raised $269,000 that night - almost $70,000 more than last year! As you can imagine I was very pleased and very relieved! * Mush