Putting the focus on women’s health at benefit for ovarian cancer research

It was encouraging to see the subject of ovarian cancer become elevated from lowly wallflower to centre of attention at a popular fundraising party held Thursday night to support research into the deadly female disease.

The benefit, called The Dance for Her, was fittingly back for its third year at the Metropolitain Brasserie, where it all began. George Wamala, director of regulatory and government affairs at RBC, and Bobby Sutherland, senior director of government affairs at Gilead Sciences, had met at the downtown restaurant several years ago to console their buddy Greg MacEachern over the recent loss of his sister to ovarian cancer. Wamala had lost his mom to the same disease nearly two decades prior.

The men decided to launch a new fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Canada in early 2020. They’ve since welcomed Heather Bakken, partner at communications firm Pendulum Group, and Shannon Kot, a partner at Deloitte, to the organizing committee. Corporate sponsors included Innovative Medicines Canada, RBC and KAN Strategies, which is the new government relations firm launched last year by MacEachern, who originally hails from Cape Breton.

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Some 125 women and men attended the sold-out event, with teal-coloured ribbons proudly pinned to their attire. According to MacEachern, the fundraiser has raised a net total of about $75,000. Organizers held a virtual version for one year during the pandemic. 

Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings, who’s also the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, was there to help raise awareness for the cause and to thank supporters. She represents the mountainous west coast riding in Newfoundland and Labrador. She added: “There are many, many organizations you can support, there are many, many organizations you can volunteer for, but find one that’s true to your heart. Greg and his pals did.”

A highlight of the night was the music and dancing. Attendees had the opportunity to influence the playlist, but it would cost them. Partygoers were encouraged to make a $100 donation (with instant tax receipt) that would allow them to make a song request — or a cancellation, if they deemed a tune too cringe-worthy.

 “If I request Hall & Oates, my husband will double down and pay $200,” Bakken joked, referencing the musical duo whose 1980s music videos were objectively awful.

The buzz surrounding the fundraiser was enough to bring the CEO of Ovarian Cancer Canada to town. “I have heard so much about the event over the last few years that I had to come from my home in Windsor, Ontario to check it out,” said Tania Vrionis before expressing her sincere gratitude to everyone in the room. 

She briefly touched on her organization’s mission to greatly improve the outcomes for women battling ovarian cancer. “Lives depend on us. It is a responsibility we do not take lightly.” 

In Canada, more than 3,000 women learn the bad news each year that they have ovarian cancer. “One in two diagnosed will not live to see another five years,” said Vrionis. Outcomes have seen little change for decades, while research has lagged behind other cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer, she added.

There does appear to be encouraging medical developments on the horizon. Researchers are on the cusp of breakthroughs in early diagnosis and better treatments, said Vrionis. “We’ve had more progress in research in the last five years than we’ve ever had.”

Organizers drew names for raffle and door prizes. Winners included Joyce Napier, former parliamentary bureau chief for CTV. She scored some golf swag donated by Melissa Cotton from CN Rail. Earnscliffe Strategies senior consultant Sean Murphy won the Triple Crown bourbon package offered up by public servant Rob Frelich. He subsequently won a pair of PWHL Ottawa tickets donated by Alik Angaladian from Maple Leaf Strategies. “What goes around comes around,” Bakker quipped of Frelich’s rebounding generosity.