The Women’s Health Research Foundation of Canada Inc (WHRFC), Dance For Your Health (DFYH) Fundraising Gala – Thank you!
The Women’s Health Research Foundation of Canada Inc (WHRFC), dedicated to improving women’s health through research, education and awareness raising, held its second successful Dance For Your Health (DFYH) fundraising gala at the Caboto Centre on Thursday May 5, 2016. Guests entered a candle-lit room full of fresh flowers and music. Past-President Dr. Silvia Alessi-Severini introduced the Foundation and welcomed everyone to join in the evening of fun and fitness. Katherine Kenyon last years winner of the WHRFC scholarship for full-time graduate students doing research on women’s health at the University of Manitoba reminded us of why we need to raise funds for women’s health research. She told us about her project on “How Women in Domestic Violence Shelters Experience Personal Empowerment”. A fresh-tasting dinner was enjoyed by all, accompanied by wine and topped off by traditional Italian Tiramisu. After dinner Vlad and Alicia Cascaval from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio swirled around the dance floor demonstrating the Waltz, Samba and Salsa wowing everyone. Guests were encouraged to form lines en masse behind the dancers to try out the dance steps, and then tested their new skills. Chrissy Troy from 103.1 Virgin Radio added her boundless enthusiasm to the festivities.
The funds raised through ticket sales, sponsorships and raffles combined with our corporate campaign and our annual target mail campaign, helped to raise over $10,000 in 2015-2016 to fund the Foundation’s activities, specifically to complete the endowment of an annual scholarship for the best research project on women’s health by a part-time graduate student at the University of Manitoba helping to fill an identified funding gap for part-time graduate students. An annual scholarship for a full-time graduate student has already been fully endowed (www.whrfcinc.com). Scholarships applications are due in the Spring. Planning for next year’s fundraising event is underway. Thank you to all those who supported this year’s gala.