The ninth annual Hungry For Life Gala and Auction will open its doors on May 12 and founders Rick Klassen and Dr. Bob Cutler couldn’t be more excited.

“Cranbrook has always been very supportive of our fundraising efforts to benefit Haiti and this year is no exception. The business community are, as usual, very generous and tickets are selling fast,” says Klassen.

Last year the event moved from the Royal Alexandria Hall to the Cranbrook Curling Club. According to Sheila Hall, a volunteer of the Hungry For Life Gala and Auction for the past six years, the larger venue doesn’t just make room for a live band and dance floor, it enables the event to really “get into character.”

“This year’s Viva Las Vegas theme will rival last year’s wildly successful Studio 54 theme,” says Hall. “Once again Nicole [Wasylowich] has come up with some fantastic designs to transform the Curling Club into our own version of the Las Vegas strip, including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, a wedding chapel and other Vegas gems.”

For Klassen and Cutler the larger venue -which accommodates more patrons and more auction packages – ultimately means more money raised for Haiti. According to Cutler, funds raised from this year’s event have already been earmarked for a number of important projects. “We have four heart patients that need surgery and another dozen patients are in need of ongoing medical support.”

Funds will also go toward supporting HIV on-site testing and supported treatment and two full-time Haitian nurses hired to oversee patient care in the medical clinic that opened in Grande Gauve this March, with funds raised here in Cranbrook.

While Klassen and Culter are excited about the progress made in Grand Guave they are quick to point out that most of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince remains in ruins. “While Grand Gauve has become cleaner, safer and more economically advantaged, most of Haiti’s devastation from the 2010 earthquake remains unchanged.”

The Hungry For Life Gala and auction is open to everyone and takes place on Saturday, May 12 at the Cranbrook Curling Club. It features renowned auctioneer and entertainer Gerry Schubert. Dinner is catered by Heidi’s Restaurant.

Live music will be provided after the dinner and auction portion of the evening by Billy Jive and the Funktastics (pictured above) and guests are encouraged to dress ‘Vegas’ as Janice Sommerfield of SNAP East Kootenay will be covering the event again this year.

Tickets are $100 each, 50 percent of which is tax deductible.  They can be purchased individually or in tables of eight.

For more information, to purchase tickets or to donate auction items please contact Suzanne Thompson in the Kootenay Therapy Centre at 250-426-4629.

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