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Now that was a night many people will not soon forget.
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The 2023 Big Ball, held Jan. 27, presented by Women for Men’s Health (WFMH) and Hotel Arts, was attended by more than 650 guests and raised record funds for the continued development of the Kawakami Pre-habilitation Clinic and the Men’s Health Centre of Excellence at the Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC). The new initiatives will ensure patients facing challenging medical circumstances receive not only world-class medical care, but the support needed to prepare them for aspects of their healing journeys – physical, mental and emotional.
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WFMH was founded in 2017 by Dr. Shelley Spaner, a radiologist with Mayfair Diagnostics and a Prostate Cancer Centre board member. Its mission includes creating awareness and removing barriers preventing men from living their healthiest lives. WFMH strives to empower and mobilize women as key players in helping shift men’s behaviours toward maintaining their health.
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Highlights this evening were numerous including an impassioned address from Big Ball chair and WFMH founder, Dr. Shelley Spaner and a powerful video from Ball ambassador Marco Carducci who is the Cavalry FC goalkeeper. Carducci was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer in February last year. In addition, the event included the always popular Bill Brooks Punch Wall; the Choice is Yours Prize Table; a Delta Airlines raffle; golfing and soccer challenges; and fabulous food, libations and dancing until the wee hours.
Among the several hundred guests were: W. Brett Wilson; Laureen Harper; chef Liana Robberecht; Drs. Bryan and Evelyn Donnelly; Dorothy Woolstencroft; Licia Corbella and her husband Stephen; Ike Kolias; Owen Hart Foundation’s Martha Hart with her sister Virginia Xavier and Barb Simic; Jerome’s Andrew Clelland and Elaine Stadel; Raymond James’ Doug Lavoie and his wife Jennifer; Concorde Entertainment Group’s Victor Choy and his wife Diane; Pam Heard; Jane McCaig and Kim Berjian; Vince Boundy; PCC’s Jeff Davison, Shannon McCarthy, Amanda Baxter, and Sara Adrian; Laura Linnell; Mike Shaikh and his wife Linda; Jayman BUILT’s Sarah and Weston Joseph; TD senior regional manager Kari Scarlett; Homes by Avi’s Charron Ungar; and others pictured.
Heartfelt thanks to myriad sponsors and donors including: Trail Appliances; TD Bank; Mawer Investment Management; Bayer; Trico Homes; Jayman BUILT; Homes by Avi; Scotia Wealth Management; Kidco Construction; Highfield Investment Group; Willow Park Wines & Spirits; RBC; Calgary Herald; Business in Calgary; Law Fifty One; DLA Piper; Cavalry FC; Hunter Family Foundation; Dr. Julie Hong and Darren Yick; Cindy Down; Olympia Trust; Anna and Gerry Maier; ARC Financial; Michael Lang; SAIU; and Malcolm Albery and his wife Shairole Henchall, and many others.