Reader here, coming off a busy weekend, including attending Saturday night’s 29th annual Health Foundation fundraising gala, at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre!
As you can see, the evening had a nautical theme, and there were many people in attendance in finery that could also fit in on warm, white sand beaches.
It was great to see a big crowd on hand, enjoying the evening in support of local health care.
I didn’t get a picture, because I was too busy enjoying it, but as you’d expect, the meal at St. Mary’s was top-notch, with ham, meatballs, and delicious scalloped potatoes (one of my favourite), along with great desserts (the carrot cake/cheesecake hybrid was awesome!)
There were numerous silent auction items up for grabs, and a beautiful ring donated by Sherring Jewelers raffled off, all with the goal of raising money for the Health Foundation to keep purchasing health care equipment and expanding health care services in our community.
Over the course of the evening, Health Foundation Executive Director told the crowd about the ongoing work done by the foundation, and noted what money is being raised for this year.
The Foundation is currently raising funds to expand the Endoscopy Surgical Suite at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, which is expected to increase capacity, in order to provide another 600 or so procedures, including colonoscopies and gastroscopies.
As well, the crowd of around 260 attendees received an update on this year’s edition of the “Farming for Health” project, which sees crops grown, with the proceeds supporting local health care.
“Farming for Health” organizer Wade McNeil announced the great news, that this year’s crop brought in $159,203.99 for the Health Foundation!
Members of the “Farming for Health” crew and Health Foundation board members poses with the big cheque signifying the proceeds of this year’s crop!
That is awesome! Over the years, “Farming for Health” has raised about $2.84 million bucks for local health care, and the best part, is that all the land, seed, fertilizer, time and labour has all been donated, so that all the money from the crop goes straight to the Health Foundation. Kudos to everyone that has helped to make it happen over the years!
After the formal presentation were made, it was time to settle in for some great entertainment, by Winnipeg magician and mentalist Patrick Gregoire.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he put on a great show, that had everyone in attendance repeatedly saying “How’d he do that?!?!”
At one point, he pulled out a book, that contained all of the derivative numbers of Pi. Not “pie,” Pi. Now from my high school algebra years, I only remember Pi as being 3.14. But the derivative numbers go on forever, and he claimed to have tens of thousands of numbers in the sequence committed to memory.
He asked me my birthday, which is August 9th, or 08/09. So, after thinking for a second, he told me that in the book if I went to a specific page, to a specific line, and so many numbers in, I’d find “08/09” in sequence. Sure enough… it was exactly as he said it would be!
Unreal! And just one of many points during the evening that he left everyone incredulous as to what he was able to do, using the powers of the mind.
If you every get the chance to see him, Patrick Gregoire puts on a heck of a show!
Through the first 28 years of the Health Foundation gala, over $800,000 has been raised for the Health Foundation, and you know the planning is already underway for the 30th edition. I’m already looking forward to it!
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