My name is Isaac McNeill and I have set up a charity benefit gala in Fort Saskatchewan – called Music for Hope – with a silent auction and live auction to benefit the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The event, in its second year, is planned for March 16, 2013. During our 2012 event, we were able to raise $13,237.81 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. I hope we can exceed that this year.
To that end, we are presenting an evening of entertainment with country music star Bobby Wills and master of ceremonies chef John Barry, plus a chance to dine with Edmonton Eskimo Nate Coehoorn.
My main reason to organize this event is to honour my mom. In 1999, she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the young age of 45. In 2002, she went through a non-related bone marrow transplant at the Tom Baker Centre in Calgary. We lived in Fort Saskatchewan, and most of her treatments and appointments were at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. My mom was very ill and was taken to the emergency room more times than I care to count. We were told on five or six occasions that she’d have only days to live – but she’s still alive. I am very thankful for the doctors and nurses at both the Cross and the Tom Baker for keeping my mom healthy. Check us out at musicforhope.ca.
