Medical students are hosting their annual fundraising gala, Affair of the Heart, this weekend. All proceeds raised will go to the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation.
The annual gala happens this Saturday night at the Fantasyland Hotel in West Edmonton Mall. During the cocktail hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., a medical student who plays the harp, as well as a medical student jazz band, will entertain the audience. The keynote speaker - a mother who will share her personal story of how the Stollery helped her daughter - starts at 6 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a fashion show, silent auction and dance. Some items up for grabs at the silent auction include a chef's table at Earl's, rib dinners for 20 people, gift certificates and gift baskets, as well as sports memorabilia.
Last year medical students raised $10,000 for a local charity through this annual gala. They hope this year will be just as successful.
"As medical students we have entered into a profession designed to treat and care for patients," said medical student Sean Goos, organizer of the weekend gala.
"So we are always eager to help out patients in any way that we can. All funds raised at our event are going directly to the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, which will aid pediatric research, patient care and education. This is one of our contributions, as medical students, to a charitable cause, and one of our major contributions to the celebration of the [U of A medical school's] centennial. We strongly believe giving back to the community is important."