I am biased. I know. I would attend this Gala and pay a fortune, even if it were a fast food meal, if it meant bringing us closer to finding a cure for Trey’s disease, MPS II, Hunter Syndrome. Fortunately, however, the meal is going to be fabulous, as well as everything else. Once Upon a Cure at The Sutton Place Hotel on September 24 is going to be unbelievable. Really unbelievable. Now, we just have to spread the word, so that people know about us. This is a first time event, for a disease that no one has heard of. So, I am here to shamelessly promote our event and give you the goods (or most of them: I don’t want you to experience the night before it arrives, but I’ll give you a sense of what’s to come) so that everyone can find out how awesome this event is going to be. And because there are so many awesome updates, I am going to break it down for you.
Emcees & Entertainment:
- Costume Designer Val Halverson from the Stargate franchise is leading the design and creation of costumes for actors for our ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed event. Our good friends Brooke and Grizz and their acting friend Krista will be hiding behind the costumes.
- Kid Carson & Amy Beeman from The Beat 94.5′s ‘Kid Carson Show’ are emceeing. Amy has known Trey since he was a baby, before his diagnosis, so I am beyond excited that she can be a big part of this event, and I am honoured that Kid is making time for us to emcee our event.
- Will Blunderfield, Network recording artist and renowned yoga instructor, is performing. Our family went to watch him perform this past weekend, when Ryan had only ever heard him on our iPod at home. Ry’s comment after listening to him live: ‘He can really sing.’ His voice and words will bring tears to your eyes. He is a beautiful person with an amazing voice. He will sing during dinner. You are in for a treat.
- DJ Flipout from The Beat 94.5 will get the party started after dinner (I am a total foodie and The Sutton’s first class plated dinner does not disappoint), dessert (famous Sutton Place Chocoholic buffet), and the auctions (read below) are closed. Enough said.
- Dirty Radio will be performing. If you don’t know who they are and have not heard their music (you probably have, their single ‘Wanna Ride’ is all over the radio right now), you should check them out (http://www.dirtyradio.ca/). Their music hooked me the first time I listened to it. I honestly can’t wait. I will be dancing.
Special Guests:
- Our confirmed list of who’s attending is on our ‘Special Guests’ page. However, there is still background work being done to bring in a few more. We’ll let you know as they come along. It will be exciting.
- A number of special guests we invited who are not able to attend have donated to our online auction, so please check it out below. You might want want a lunch with David Hewlett or autographed script from Robin Williams…
Raffle & Auction:
- Online auction: Amanda Tapping, David Hewlett & Jane Loughman, Ryan Robbins & Robert Lawrenson, and Jewel Staite have all donated lunches with themselves for our online auction. Peter DeLuise has donated a whole schwack of cool items from Stargate: Atlantis, ranging from a kids Stargate: Atlantis jacket (custom made by the Stargate: Atlantis costume department) to a cross bow, cast chairs & uniforms used in the show. Robin Williams signed a leather bound copy of ‘The Final Cut’, the show he worked on with Ryan in Vancouver a few years back. There will also be cast and crew photos autographed by the entire cast, autographed head shots, and loads more. The online auction will open a few weeks before the Gala, so keep your eyes peeled! We will tweet about it, post on Facebook and I will also write a blog with links on the blog to all the items.
- Live auction: Tofino package including: accommodation, restaurant GC’s and surfing lessons. Day with an Olympian package including: WB passes, accommodation, and a day of skiing/boarding with an Olympian. Zip Trek package including: Zip Trek passes & accomodation
- Silent auction: Canucks tickets, passes to Yyoga & other yoga studios, art, photo shoots, make up sessions, limosine ride with dinner at Cactus Club Cafe, jewelry by Sonja Picard & Tiffany Haziza, a black pearl necklace, a NY Rangers jersey autographed by the team, nutritional consultation, video production, Kiss & Make Up gift certificates, Sewell’s Marina boat ride, massages, golf, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates… and these are only a few.
- And last but not least, we will be raffling off the below diamond pendant designed and donated by Carats (www.carats.com).
Media & Sponsorship:
- The Beat 94.5 is our exclusive radio sponsor.
- The West Ender is our print sponsor.
- Global Television will be doing a story on us & our event will be listed on Global Television’s Community Events calendar.
- We also have coverage on a number of sci-fi and local websites, in newspapers, magazines, and on other television stations, but there are too many to mention. Soon we will have a page under the media section dedicated to this.
- Shire HGT jumped on board with us as a Silver sponsor the day I asked. They are a fabulous and wonderful group that has helped us out every time we have asked.
- The Sutton Place Hotel, also another group who has been surprisingly wonderful (not that they should be awful, just that they make this event planning enjoyable and pleasant and are incredibly flexible and supportive) and generous.
- PacBlue is our print sponsor (printing up invites, posters etc.).
These are the reasons to buy tickets to what is going to be an awesome party and a must attend event. I still have goods in my back pocket that are not quite confirmed that will make it even better. I would go to this party, even if it wasn’t for a charitable cause. I kind of wish it wasn’t my event because I’m not going to be able to sit back and relax and let loose on the dance floor (Ry’s told me I need to be relatively composed and presentable 
)! However, in addition to the above reasons to attend, this Gala is for a charity. A charity that raises funds for research for a disease that affects kids. A progressive and rare disease that affects kids. And my son Trey.
I promise you this money will not be wasted. It will be put to research and we will find a cure. I would not do less for Trey. Come party with us and save the lives of kids whose diseases will noticeably progress between now and the month and a half until the Gala on September 24. You will be in the hearts of our family (not just Ryan and I, but Trey’s brother, sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles) and all the families whose kids are affected by MPS II Hunter Syndrome, forever. You have no idea how much your generosity means to us. You are saving our kids’ lives. It brings me to tears every time. With every donation and every ounce of support.