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Ladies’ Red Serge Gala raises record amount for research

Cops For Cancer
red serge
Sunshine Coast RCMP Const. Andrea Ceulmans and Staff Sgt. Vishal Mathura manned a blackjack table at this year’s Cops for Cancer Ladies’ Red Serge Gala held on Sept. 15 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Sechelt.

The annual Cops for Cancer Ladies’ Red Serge Gala on Sept. 15 raised another record amount for pediatric cancer research this year. The exact amount is still being tallied, but Catherine Gadsby of the gala committee said it’s safe to report the event exceeded last year’s record fundraising total of $45,000.

“We hope to have the final figure tallied by next week,” Gadsby said.

She said the event was another sell-out evening and that the 250 ladies who came had a great time being served by officers in red serge and firefighters in uniform.

Guests also had a blast trying their luck at the blackjack tables to win Mountie bucks to bid on selected items, and this year’s silent auction saw more donations than ever before.

Gadsby said MCs Sgt. Chris Backus and Const. Harrison Mohr had the crowd in stitches throughout the evening and that guests had a lot of fun in the photo booth.

Guests also got a taste of Komo Gway Oysters courtesy Richard Hardy from Pentlatch Seafoods.

That was the only new addition to this year’s gala, which has been put on by the gala committee for the past 10 years.

Gadsby has been the chair of the effort since the committee took it on, but this year she stepped back a little and Carrie Sacco stepped up to be the lead person.

Gadsby said Sacco did an “excellent job,” noting “she’s just dynamite.”

She hopes Sacco will stay on as chair of the committee next year.

“The whole committee found it just terrific to work with her, so hopefully she’ll stay on,” Gadsby said.

The money raised from the gala will go towards the total amount raised by the Coast’s two Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast riders – Sunshine Coast RCMP constables Ed Harrison and Dustin Shevchenko.

The officers set off on their 900 km ride to raise money for pediatric cancer research on Sept. 21 with several other officers and first responders from across B.C.

The group was set to ride through the Sunshine Coast on Sept. 22.

If you would like to donate to the cause, funds can still be given online at http://bit.ly/2cVKT5p.

All money raised goes to the Canadian Cancer Society to be used for pediatric cancer research and to support children and families dealing with cancer, through programs like Camp Goodtimes.