Southeast Cancer Support Services (SCSS) is marveling after raising more than $48,000 through its Hope in Heels Fashion Show and Gala.
Cindi Rempel Patrick with the organization says donations continue to flow in.
"We're still getting people who are sending in cheques, going on our website and saying, 'Hey, I'd like to contribute. As of Tuesday, I think it went up by about $400," she says.
While planning the event originally, she says the six-month-old organization hoped to achieve $25,000. But then sponsors came into the picture, vendors began donating foods and services, and then the initial venue was sold out.
In response, they bumped their hopes up to $30,000 to $35,0000 dollars.
"We kept working on the budget, and the numbers started going higher and higher... We had the opportunity to expand our seating, thanks to the (Southeast) Event Centre—they opened up the ice surface for us," Rempel Patrick says.
Nearly 450 people attended the fundraiser, she says, noting, "you just left that event thinking, 'Wow. It's a good day to be alive."
Finances raised through the gala will go to support SCSS' programming in the region, Rempel Patrick says. That includes providing cancer patient's with transportation to appointments, parking fees, financial support for overnight stays in Winnipeg, head coverings, support groups, and more.
It also created awareness about the organization, she says.
"It's nice if people will then know, 'Oh, there's a place that can support us and provide some services. We don't have to worry about that.' So that just brings joy and that brings hope," she says. "It's all about bringing hope."
She extends a big thank you to the Southeast Event Centre for accommodating the gala, and the community for their support.
The SCSS is already drawing up the blueprints for their next big project for the end of May called "Walk for Hope," based on Relay for Life.
Written with files from Carly Koop