PARTY PLAY: Cerebral Palsy or CP is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a child’s brain is still developing, before, during or immediately after birth. Those with CP face loss or impairment of motor function of varying degrees. Since 1954, the Cerebral Palsy Association of B.C. has placed its focus on creating a life without limits for those living with CP and other disabilities. To bring greater awareness of its work, the organization recently staged its third Life Without Limits Gala at the Best Western Chateau Granville Hotel. More than 140 supporters took in the sold-out fundraiser, which featured keynote speaker, Paralympian Nathan DeWitt. Diagnosed with CP as a newborn, DeWitt’s success as an athlete — overcoming his disability through adaptive sports — embodied this year’s party theme, Play Without Limits. Aiming to top $50,000, the proceeds from this year’s Scotiabank-sponsored soiree will go towards therapeutic play activities such as dance, martial arts and yoga to help those with CP to develop greater mobility, confidence and a sense of inclusion.
PRETTY IN PINK: In 2007, Travis Price and David Shepherd bought and distributed 50 pink shirts to all the boys in their Nova Scotia high school in sympathy of a Grade 9 boy who was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt on the first day of school. The protest sparked Anti-Bullying Day, a day for people to take a stand against bullying. It's celebrated on various dates across Canada and around the world. Price was the special guest at the sixth annual Pink Shirt Day Luncheon, an event he inspired. Presented by the CKNW Orphans Fund, the luncheon luau welcomed 200 influential women of all ages and from all sectors. Steered by Shelley Lyons and Karen Christiansen, and hosted by Global TV’s Kristi Gordon, the noon-hour party generated a record-setting $80,000. Since its inception in 2011, the Pink Shirt Day benefit has raised more than $300,000 to fund programs dedicated to preventing bullying and violence and fostering healthy relationships.
TAKING FLIGHT: Yours truly, along with Fairchild media’s Mary Lo, emceed the launch of Hong Kong Airline’s newest route, currently dominated by Cathay Pacific and Air Canada. Hong Kong Airlines — China’s fourth largest carrier — introduced its much-anticipated Hong Kong-to-Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»service with great fanfare. Travel agents, industry partners and media walked the red carpet runway for the pre-launch festivities at Sun Sui Wah Restaurant. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»is the carrier’s latest international destination. Last year, it added Australia’s Gold Coast and Auckland, New Zealand. Dignitaries from the airline greeted guests before touting the new daily noon-hour flight, which will commence June 30. Offering business and economy class travel, Hong Kong airlines is hopeful the its signature sky bar in both cabins of the plane, as well as its attentive service and introductory round-trip fare of $500 will be the ticket to prosperity. Last year, 369,000 Canadians visited Hong Kong, while 500,000 arrived at YVR from the special administrative territory.
MISSION POSSIBLE: Since 2007, the Ascenta Foundation has mounted medical missions to the Philippines, Peru and Nicaragua to provide care to the most vulnerable. Over the course of five days, teams of health care professionals administer medical, dental, optometry, and minor surgeries to underserved communities. To date, more than 17,500 people have benefitted from the pop-up clinics and medical services provided by Vancouver-based volunteers. The organization staged its fundraiser at the Hellenic Centre. The Ultimate Theme Party had all the ingredients of a fun night — good music, fine drinks and great food, not to mention some outrageous costumes. The Saturday night affair looked to raise $50,000 to support its next medical mission scheduled for the spring of 2018.
Hear Fred Mondays 8:20am on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM;Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @FredAboutTown
