Event: Ovarian Cancer Canada’s LOVE HER Gala

Last night, Editor-in-Chief Bonnie Munday and I attended the second-annual LOVE HER gala in Toronto. Presented by Ovarian Cancer Canada, it was an evening to celebrate women and raise awareness of this insidious cancer.
The stats are sobering: There’s no effective early-detection screening test available for ovarian cancer, and the five-year survival rate for late detection is less than 30%. Currently, 17,000 Canadian women are living with the disease. Over 2,600 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually in Canada; every year, 1,750 women die from it.

Funds raised at LOVE HER will help support Ovarian Cancer Canada’s education and awareness programs and research initiatives. During the evening, the Karen Campbell National Award for Research Excellence was presented to Montreal-based molecular oncologist Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson (below).

The splashy event had something for everyone: fashion, music, a cocktail reception and more. The Master of Ceremonies was comedian Jessica Holmes (top photo), who opened the show dressed as Liza Minelli and kept the laughs coming with her irreverent celebrity impressions and improvised banter. The runway show featured the Canadian fashion label Judith & Charles, and shoes by Stuart Weitzman. Things started to heat up during the live auction portion of the event, which featured items ranging from a Bayview Village shopping spree to dinner for eight with the Toronto Professional Firefighters Association. Later in the evening, violinist Sophie Serafino captivated the crowd with her virtuoso performance.

Last night’s event raised $240,000! The next LOVE HER gala takes place in Calgary on March 7th. To purchase tickets please visit www.love-her.ca.

‘Joana Lourenço, associate editor

Related:
‘ Ovarian Cancer
‘ The five deadliest cancers for women
‘ How you can help end cancer