BC Business
The BC Cancer Foundation's 14th annual Inspiration Gala raises over $4.3 million towards solutions for blood cancer.
The 2018 Inspiration Gala
A VIP cocktail reception presented by Cressey kicked off the evening as guests bid on silent auction items, including a “Wall of Wine” and lined up to get photographed by The Collective You. The evening was emcee’d by veteran broadcasters Mike Killeen and Tamara Taggart, who was also the gala chair.
Welcoming remarks were made by Sarah Roth, BC Cancer Foundation president & CEO, and speakers included Kristin Armstrong, who lives with leukemia on a daily basis, and Kelly May, a courageous mother whose daughter Morgan was diagnosed with a blood cancer at age four. The gala ended with a live auction, raffle draw, and dancing with Dr. Strangelove.
This years proceeds from the gala (presented by Encana) go towards finding new treatment solutions for blood cancer. Over 2,000 British Columbians are diagnosed with blood cancers each year, which includes leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Sarah Roth, BC Cancer Foundation president & CEO; and Dr. Malcolm Moore, BC Cancer Agency president
Tamara Taggart, gala chair; and Robyn Jones-Murrell, BC Cancer Foundation associate VP
Ana Fernandes, Odlum Brown portfolio manager; and Ruth Burstein, Marcon Metalfab business owner
Paul Seipp, Bank of Montreal regional VP; and Dave Lye, Encana VP external affairs
Celeste Burgoyne, Lululemon executive VP and BC Cancer Foundation board member; Kirsten Tisdale, BC Cancer Foundation chair and EY partner; and Scott Hunt, Hunt Business Advisors president
Melanie Auld, Melanie Auld Jewellery owner; and Alex Auld, Sportsnet 650 radio host
George Hungerford, Hungerford Properties partner and former Olympic rower; Fran Belsberg; and Jane Hungerford, community leader
Lisa Sweeney; Andrew Sweeney, Phillips, Hager & North VP & portfolio manager and past board chair; and Bob Conconi, Robert L. Conconi Foundation founder and BC Cancer Foundation director
Sarah Roth, BC Cancer Foundation president & CEO speaks at the VIP reception
Lou Del Gobbo, BC Cancer Foundation CFO; Pamela McGill; Barb Fitzgerald, BC Women’s & CHildren’s Hospital chief nursing officer; and Dr. Malcolm Moore, BC Cancer Agency president
Kevin Yeo, Medirike Consulting owner; and Natasha Wodak, Olympic athlete long distance running
Alan Baggoo, Dr. Alan Baggoo Ltd. owner; and Marilyn Yeo, Marilyn Yeo Style & Design owner
Fanny Kiefer, veteran broadcaster; and Megan Bakonyi, Singleton Reynolds LLP lawyer
Tasha Jarisz-Ashmead, PHD student; and Ryan Ashmead, commercial litigator
Bob Conconi, Robert L. Conconi Foundation founder and BC Cancer Foundation director; his wife Diane Conconi; Shaminb Salemohamed, BC Cancer Agency dental hygenist; and Karim Salemohamed, Atlantia president
Kelly May, guest speaker; and Kyle May, Richmond cranberry farmer and BC Cranberry Growers’ Association director
Natasha Wodak, Olympic athlete long distance running; and her husband, Alan Baggoo, Dr. Alan Baggoo Ltd. owner
Erin and John Folka, KPMG partner
Chelsea Raymond, Raymond Fitness owner; and Jason Gigliotti, Sienna Resources president
The Wall of Wine up for auction
John McIntyre, retired, Bill Lang, retired; and John Larsen, former Olympic rower
Beau Howes, Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd. director & portfolio manager; Mike Killeen, gala emcee; and Paul Silk, Merchant House Capital president
Billie Lawrence, Wheaton Precious Metals manager of events & administration; Randy Smallwood, Wheaton Precious Metals president & CEO and BC Cancer Foundation board member; and Lejla Karamesic, Wheaton Precious Metals administration assistant
Gala emcees Tamara Taggart and Mike Killeen
Coleen Christie, Global BC anchor; and Alan Ferris, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver director catering & special events
Dennis Gocer and The Collective You photographed guests