A sold-out "Tales in the Woods"-themed gala has raised $1.53 million to establish Surrey Memorial Hospital as a new regional hub for robotic surgery in the Fraser Health region.
Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s 8th Celebration of Care Gala was a party for nearly 500 people Saturday, Feb. 22, at Aria Convention Centre, in "a whimsical night of enchantment" involving philanthropists, medical professionals, business, community and political leaders.
Gala funds will contribute to the purchase of a $5.5-million da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System, "empowering world-class surgeons to perform advanced, minimally invasive surgeries for complex ear, nose, throat, lung and chest procedures," according to a Surrey Hospitals Foundation news release. Plans are to launch the technology in a new operating room at Surrey Memorial Hospital early next year.
A four-minute video about the surgical robot is posted to vimeo.com.
Set in an enchanted "fairy tale forest," Saturday's big-money fundraiser featured the Global News team of Sonia Sunger and Mark Madryga as hosts, Fred Lee as emcee, the inspiration stories of surgical patients Alvin Romero and Tania DenHartog, and dance music by the band Dr. Strangelove.
The gala, billed as Surrey's largest annual fundraising event, sponsored by Berezan Group and EllisDon, kicked off with donations of $200,000, from Alice Bush and Don Murray and $150,000, from CCI Group.
“The generosity we experienced at this year’s gala was nothing short of incredible," said Nicole Robson, foundation president and CEO. "It truly highlights the profound impact philanthropy has in transforming health care. Together, we’ve made a bold move towards enhancing surgical care at Surrey Memorial Hospital."
Last February, the foundation's 2024 Celebration of Care gala raised more than $1.7 million for “equitable cardiac health care services” at Surrey Memorial Hospital. The “Midnight at the Ballet” party was also held at Aria Convention Centre.
