RARE JEWEL: The Vancouver-based Rare Disease Foundation is focused on linking basic science and clinical practice to increase the efficiency of rare disease research. A rare disease is defined as a condition affecting one in 2,000 individuals. According to medical literature, there are some 7,000 rare diseases. For parents of children living with rare diseases, research is critical to finding a cure. Dr. Millan Patel, a geneticist and physician, saw very little funds trickling down to his patients and, wanting to make an immediate difference, he helped found the charitable foundation and the society’s marquee fundraiser, Rare Finds. A capacity crowd filed into the Villa Amato ballroom for the sixth edition of the food and wine grazer, emceed by Coleen Christie. Partygoers enjoyed tasty bites from local chefs and restaurants before loosening their purse strings on an array of auction items. The event generated north of $114,000 in funding that will be made immediately available this month to nearly 200 applications awaiting monetary support for research.
AGAINST ALL ODDS: Philanthropist and do-gooder Lorne Segal chaired his 10th consecutive Courage to Come Back Awards. Always a weeper, the inspired event celebrated British Columbians in six categories who exemplified the power of the human spirit, overcoming adversity, hardship and challenges. A record-breaking 1,500 guests attended the 18th installment. Staged at the Vancouver Convention Centre and emceed by Lynn Collier and Kevin Evans, the event generated a breath-taking $1.17 million in support of Coast Mental Health. Feted were Andrew Bhatti (addiction), John Hedderson (physical rehabilitation), Kyle Jacques (youth), Jim Mandelin (social adversity), Andrea Paquette (mental health) and Wendy St. Marie (medical). Proceeds from the night will support programs to house and help more than 4,200 people with severe mental illness.
HIGH CAMP: Sixty youth, aged 14 to 21, will participate in the sixth installment of UBC’s CampOUT in July thanks to the generosity of guests who attended the annual house party held at Pam Vidalin’s North Shore residence. Guests, who shelled out $250 a ticket, demonstrated their generosity by bidding on silent auction items and funding campers to travel from all over B.C. to attend the four-day community-based outdoor leadership camp. Yours truly emceed the Lazy Gourmet, La Stella Winery and Corsa Beer-catered affair, which featured stories from past campers and Vancouver lawyer Barbara Findlay, the evening’s keynote. The camp shindig netted $42,500 for the queer, trans and allied youth program. Since its inception, 300 campers have participated in the transformative, life-changing program for free thanks to the generosity of donors.
