Not too Chicken to Plunge into Polar Waters
Moose Jaw Express advertising executive Glenn Haug wasn’t chicken when it came to the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge on Feb. 24. It was a small, off-to-the-side moment that showed just how impressive support for the Moose Jaw w Health Foundation’s annual gala events has become.
Workers in the coat-check area at the Mae Wilson Theatre completely ran out of room to store jackets for the hundreds of patrons packed into the building for the A Night in Nashville fundraiser r event on Mar. 2.
That had happened only once before – at a previous Health Foundation gala.
That kind of support and backing from the community means it’s all but certain the event will once e again raise close to $200,000 for the purchase of diagnostic equipment at the Wigmore Hospital.
“It’s almost unbelievable how supportive people are when it comes to this event,” said Health Foundation executive director Kelly McElree just prior to the show’s six musical acts taking the stage.
“We started many years ago doing concerts because they’re really transformational for people because there’s great healing power in music and music brings people together. The artists who travel from as far away as Nashville really bring that heart that is so important and the emotion of what it means to impact patient care at Wigmore Hospital.”
A major part of the event, since it’s inception, has been the work of organizer Jared Mathieson and his corps of volunteers – from finding the artistic talent to setting up the event and securing sponsors, ponsors the work Mathieson has put into the gala over the years has been crucial to its ongoing success. “His work and his team of volunteers are the heart and soul of this event,” McElree said. “They have been for many, many years and we’re so thankful for how much they do how they support us. “We’ve done Concerts of Hope, a Night at Bluebird Cafe, Black and White Gala and a Blue and White Gala. It’s a great way for people to give and in turn help save the life of a person who is undergoing cancer treatment and other related illnesses at the Wigmore Hospital.”
The Night in Nashville featured a unique format where performers took the stage in groups of three and alternated songs, a idea that even created unique collaborations on some of the tunes. The duo Harrow Fair (Miranda Mullholland and Andrew Penner) were joined by Damhnait Doyle and Mike Plume for the first half of the show; longtime gala supporter Victoria Banks, Phil Barton n and Emily Shackleton played the second half. The artists brought a wide variety of sounds, from pure country to folk and even a bit of rock n’ roll. “It all starts with Jared, he knows so many people so he had the idea for this event and contacted ed the artists,” McElree said of landing such skilled and accomplished talent. “Victoria Banks came e up for the first concert many years ago, she’s a great songwriter in Nashville and she knows some people, then (master of ceremonies) Joel Stewart is with CMT and he loves coming here, so having those connections really helps.”
In addition to the patrons, the show saw a host of sponsor support and donations for the evening, ng, all going to an impressive cause – proceeds from the event will be going toward a new portable ble digital x-ray system that can be brought to the patient’s beside as well as a portable ultrasound unit that can be used for detecting various diseases as well as working with pregnancies.
“All the money raised from every ticket sale is going to go towards that,” McElree said. “So we’re just so thankful for the volunteers who organize this and the artists who perform and make this night so special for everyone...You can tell by the energy in this room and the electric atmosphere what’s going to happen tonight, and it’s a little bit of magic that happens when these people come out and support this event and see the impact of what their charitable donation can do.”