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A NIGHT TO DREAM In 2001, Ladner resident Christina Basi suffered a blood vessel rupture in her brain that caused her left side to be paralyzed.

Working with a rehabilitation team, she started walking again three months later. A promising future ahead, the UBC nursing student would suffer a rare re-bleed, putting her back at square one with paralysis once again on her left side.

Despite suffering two life-threatening brain injuries, and having to withdraw from the nursing program, Basi maintained a positive outlook. With extreme perseverance, she successfully recovered a second time with support from the B.C. Centre for Ability’s Community Brain Injury Program.

For her indomitable spirit, determination and courage to push past her physical and emotional barriers, Basi was one of five individuals cited with the Heroes of Ability Award at the 18th annual Dining for Dreams Gala.

Presented by the B.C. Centre for Ability, the yearly fundraising effort celebrated those served by the Centre who demonstrate resilience and inspire others.

Hosted by Geoff Hastings of Global TV, and fronted by the Centre’s chief fundraiser Maya Dimapilis, the event attracted 300 guests to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel for an extraordinary evening of celebration and storytelling.

The remarkable tales of resilience moved many in the ballroom to show their support. The dreamy affair would garner $200,000, enabling the Centre to address the growing needs of children, youth and adults with disabilities and their families.

Since 1969, the B.C. Centre for Ability at Kingsway and Earles in East Vancouver has been providing vocational, therapy and emotional services and programs to help facilitate and build competencies and foster inclusion in all aspects of a person’s life.

The Centre today serves more than 3,500 individuals with disabilities, said Virginia Angus, president of the B.C. Centre for Ability Foundation.

FORE KIDS At this time of year, many of the fundraisers around the province move from the ballrooms to the fairways.

The YMCA’s First Tee Tournament saw 124 golfers take to the Richmond Golf and Country Club for the seventh annual event, sponsored by Marty

Zlotnik’s ZLC Financial Group. The First Tee is a unique YMCA program that teaches budding golfers, ages six to 17, the fundamentals of the game. Beyond the outdoor fun, the goal of the program is to teach kids essential life skills — whether it’s learning to be honest while keeping score, perseverance when losing or good judgment while making a shot.

It’s hoped these lessons and the sport’s core values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship stick well beyond the golf course.

Since 2010, the YMCA, in partnership with the Vancouver park board, has been running the program, providing children all the necessary equipment to play, and no one is ever turned away because of an inability to pay.

The First Tee’s popularity has even seen the youth development program expand to the city of Surrey.

Fronted by Jeff Shewfelt, Christophe Collins and Renate Mueller, golfers of all abilities enjoyed a picture perfect day on the links, and the opportunity to swing for a $1 million hole-in-one. While no one was successful in acing the hole, kids scored big as $40,000 was raised from the day of golf and camaraderie.

Proceeds will ensure that another 1,000 kids who have expressed an interest to pick up the clubs get to play this summer.

HOUSE PARTY A full card of 144 players hit the links at the University Golf Course for Crofton House’s 20th Tourney and Gala, sponsored by Mount Baldy Resort.

Event chair Todd Ingledew orchestrated the fundraising luau on the greens in support of bursaries for girls from junior kindergarten to Grade 12 to discover and pursue their personal excellence at the private school that’s been educating students on Vancouver’s West Side since 1898.

Under ideal conditions, golfers played 18 holes while participating in many on-course contests for bragging rights and a host of prizes.

Yours truly, along with committee members — proud parents and distinguished alumni and friends Gayla DeHart, Stephen Gibson, Drew Grimston, Darren Hansen, Tracy Harvey-Chan, Chris Isherwood, Jennifer Johnston, Lili Kahkesh, Tom Mauthe and Bob Seeman — greeted everyone back at the clubhouse for the banquet and live auction.

Always an auction highlight is the Dirty Apron dinner with headmaster Dr. Patricia Dawson — a fixture at the school for the past 17 fundraisers. The evening of cooking at David

Robertson’s culinary school fetched $37,000.

The outpouring resulted in an extraordinary $300,000 being raised.

PHOTOS: FRED LEE/PNG Accompanied by parents Pauline and Andy Basi, Christina Basi was one of five individuals recognized for having the courage to overcome their disabilities to inspire others to achieve their dreams.

Maya Dimapilis, the B.C. Centre for Ability’s Resource development director, and her daughter Sadie, a beneficiary of the organization’s services, welcomed guests to the annual fundraiser that helped raise money to enhance the quality of life for...

Acclaimed chef John Bishop and his wife Theresa were among the major supporters of the B.C. Centre for Ability.

Master of ceremonies Geoff Hastings of Global TV escorted his wife Eve to the dinner and auction.

Delayne Sartison of the B.C. Centre for Ability board of directors and foundation president Virginia Angus were all smiles after hearing that $200,000 was raised.

Fairmont Waterfront general manager Ken Flores hosted B.C. Centre for Ability executive director Angela Kwok’s flagship fundraiser.

PHOTOS: FRED LEE/PNG Professional golfer Eugene Wong joined philanthropist and community builder Marty Zlotnik to enjoy a day on the links in support of the YMCA’s First Tee program.

Crofton House headmaster Dr. Patricia Dawson and golf tournament chair Todd Ingledew were all smiles after $300,000 was raised to support student bursaries that help girls realize their fullest potential.

Sometimes it’s not about your game, but more about how you look. Hitting the links in their Roaring ’20s party dresses were Tammy Nguyen, Alex Bretsen and Andria Lee. Missing was Nikki Reuter.

YMCA director of fund development Cathryn France, Justine Hayman of Raymond James and Janine Davies of the board of directors hit the links in support of the First Tee program.

Oliver Tubb received the First Tee trophy from tournament director Fraser Mulholland.

Tournament co-chair Renate Mueller and First Tee program manager Christophe Collins helped raise $40,000 so underserved kids can learn to play golf.

Cameron Davis, Sean George, Bruce Lindsay and Scot Atkinson were among 144 golfers who hit the greens for Crofton House’s yearly golf tournament and fundraising dinner.