Cancer fighters: Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard performed at Brenda Currie's inaugural Evening to Conquer Oral Cancer Gala. Currie, a dental hygienist, chaired the $400-a-ticket dinner and auction attracting several hundred supporters to the B.C. Oral Cancer Prevention Program benefit. Naz Panahi and Alexa Ulinder Baughen once again fronted the 16th running of the Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil Ball. The black-tie affair, emceed by Global TV's Chris Gailus, generated $905,000.

Very good friends: The Vancouver Chapter of Friends of Hebrew University gathered at Rocky Mountaineer Station for their bi-annual gala celebration. Honouring oncologist Dr. Karen Gelmon for her outstanding research in the field of breast cancer, a capacity crowd got onboard the charity train and raised $1.3 million for Gelmon's work, supported by B.C. Cancer Agency and the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) at Hebrew University.

Roaring success: This year's Rare Finds Gala was a feast for the senses. Ten of the city's top chefs delighted guests with appetizers and pastries in support of the Rare Disease Foundation. Several of Vancouver's Real Housewives were spotted, adding star power to the stand-up affair held at the Ferrari Maserati showroom. A record $110,000 was raised to foster vital rare disease research at B.C. Children's Hospital.

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Hear Fred Mondays 8:20 a.m. on CBC Radio's The Early Edition; email yvrflee@hotmail.com; Twitter: @FredAboutTown or fredabouttown.blogspot.com.