A Sparkling Afternoon by the Sea is the theme of this year’s lunch fundraiser in support of the Ovarian Cancer Society.
The gourmet luncheon will be held at the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre in Parksville on Monday, Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This will be the fifth lunch. It’s biannual, and the purpose is to create awareness about ovarian cancer because there is no detection test for it and so if people know the signs and symptoms then hopefully they can get treated quicker,” said Ovarian Cancer Canada board member Eileen Beadle. “The quicker they get treated, the longer they live.”
Ovarian cancer is the most serious women’s cancer and the fifth most common cancer for women.
“We are the only organization devoted to ovarian cancer,” Beadle said. “Breast cancer has 52 (organizations), we have one.”
Beadle said the luncheon is a gala-style afternoon similar to a “high-end wedding.”
There will be a live and silent auction that will include a two-night stay at Sparkling Hill Resort and Spa in Vernon and a raffle of jewelry designed by Parksville artist John Derek.
Paris Rosenthal, daughter of children’s author Amy Rosenthal who died of ovarian cancer, will be the afternoon’s guest speaker.
Tickets for the lunch are $100 and a tax receipt will be issued for a portion of the price.
“All of the funds raised go to Ovarian Cancer Canada,” Beadle said. “We usually raise over $30,000 each year. We’ve raised well over $100,000 in our events so far.”
For tickets and the menu, visit www.thelunch.ca.