Nick Lees: 80th Anniversary Gala raises $250,000 for hospital foundation

Content of the article

We went for a glass of wine one night and nervously vowed to each other to raise over $250,000 for the University Hospital Foundation’s fight against cancer.

Content of the article

Earlier this year, I met hotelier Peter Parmar, his wife Simrit and our longtime friend Donna Zazulak at The Rebel restaurant on 142nd Street.

Content of the article

“I am approaching my 80th birthday and my Scottish Presbyterian mother would hang her head in shame if I did nothing to help others in our community,” I told my friends.

“I arrived in Edmonton from the UK with broken bones from a car accident and very little money. But based here, I continued to travel the world, running marathons, leading bike rides and climbing mountains.

Century Hospitality owner Chris Lachance, fresh off the golf course, joined our conversation and my next birthday turned into a cancer fundraiser.

There wasn’t a single person at the table who hadn’t lost a family member or good friend to cancer – and we were going to help save lives.

Content of the article

The Westin Hotel was chosen as the venue and three creative and determined people volunteered to join our team, real estate agent Sally Munro, hotelier Karyn Decore and stunning designer Elexis Schloss.

Jack and Jeannie Agrios set the tone and donated $50,000 to get our campaign started, then Munro met investor Walter Fett at a rebel committee meeting one night and convinced him to become our title sponsor for 25 $000.

A string quartet, which later joined the 20-piece TEMPO orchestra to play over dinner, set the stage for guests in the lobby at our October 14 gala, and later at the VIP reception.

“The name comes from the doctors who formed the Edmonton Medical Professionals Orchestra,” said director Richard Caldwell. « It was then opened up to avid fans, who thoroughly enjoyed playing at your birthday party. »

Content of the article

Alberta Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and her cardiologist husband Zaheer Lakhani and I were led to dinner by a piper.

I was so nervous I’m afraid I can’t even remember what Scottish ditty we walked into. But I was delighted when their honors chatted with many guests and didn’t leave until late evening.

I met a smiling Fett at one point and he said to me, « It’s a wonderful evening, great people have decided to attend and every penny spent here will go to a very good cause. »

One of my most vivid memories is of emcee Danny Hooper in a role and raising $90,000 on a cash call before our auction. I knew the public appeals had already raised some $80,000 and I relaxed knowing that we were going to exceed our net goal of $250,000.

Content of the article

Jodi Abbot, president of the University Hospital Foundation, told me that her foundation is grateful to everyone who came out to support my 80th birthday.

“Funds raised will facilitate the purchase of a $170,000 dual-balloon enteroscope for the University of Alberta Hospital,” she said. « The existing equipment is outdated and in urgent need of modernization. »

She added, “Patients across Western and Northern Canada will directly benefit from this new technology, as it enables the early detection of colon cancers and disorders such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease.

“The small bowel program at the University of Alberta Hospital will remain ‘cutting edge’ with the addition of this essential equipment.

In the live auction, an elite dinner for 10 with wine, at your home and prepared by internationally renowned chef Sonny Sung, sold for $6,500.

Content of the article

A three-night helicopter trip to Golden’s Purcell Mountain Lodge for two, with all meals, accommodations and a professional guide included, sells for $6,000.

An in-person painting created at the gala that night by artist and chef Chris Hrynyk sold for $3,800.

Don’t tell him, please, but for Christmas Dennis O’Rourke, Edmonton alum and owner of Okanagan’s Peak Cellars, may be getting a great costume from Sam Abouhassan for Christmas. O’Rourke’s wife, Elizabeth, quietly bought one for $3,000.

At the silent auction, a vacation package for four at Jasper’s Tonquin or Maligne Lodges sold for $1,500; a weekend getaway golf package at Copper Point Resort in Invermere cost $1,259, and a Scotch Vines tasting for 15 people and a wild game dinner for six at Normand’s Restaurant both went sold for $750.

Thank you to the table full of physicians at the University of Alberta Hospital for participating and giving my team their vote of approval.

A note from Dr. Sander Veldhuyzen van Zanten, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and AHS Senior Medical Advisor, said: “It was a fun and well-attended event. It was the first real event I went to after the Covid withdrawal.