Burnaby resident Scarlett Chen is backing the B.C. Cancer Foundation's ninth annual fundraising gala this year. Every year, the foundation picks a different focus, and this year's theme is lung cancer.
Chen lost her husband Jeremy, when he was only 30 years old. The NOW featured her story in 2011, shortly after he passed away. Jeremy was a non-smoker and he was in good physical shape, so his cancer diagnosis came as a shock to friends and family, who fundraised in his memory for the B.C. Lung Association.
"We can't bring Jeremy back, but we can support research that will help change the dire outcomes of lung cancer and the researchers and doctors who can change it," Scarlett said in a recent press release.
Scarlett's story will be featured in the B.C. Cancer Foundation's Inspiration Gala on Nov. 7, at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver. November also happens to be lung cancer awareness month. The foundation estimates 2,000 British Columbians will die of lung cancer in the coming year.
Tickets for the gala are $600 per person, available online at www.bccancerfoundation.com.
Help the animals
The Wildlife Rescue Association is hosting a Wild Winter Gala on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Burnaby.
The event is a fundraiser to help the non-profit organization with the costs involved in caring for thousands of injured and orphaned animals each year.
"This is the first time the Wildlife Rescue Association has done an event on this scale, and the positive feedback and excitement around the gala has been tremendous," said Marcy Potter, chair of the organizing committee.
The gala will be held at the Riverway Golf Clubhouse, and there are auction items and entertainment.
Tickets are $125 each, or $1,100 for a table. For more information, call 604-526-2747.
Dog consciousness
If you've ever wondered what your dog is thinking, check out an upcoming session with UBC psychologist Stanley Coren at the McGill library branch. Coren will touch on various canine questions: How smart are dogs? Can they dream? Do they recognize their own reflection or images on TV? According to the library, recent data suggests that dogs have the mental abilities of a two- or three-year-old human. Coren has quite the CV when it comes to canine expertise. He has published books on dogs and has appeared on TV shows with people like Oprah and Larry King. He was also host of a national TV show called Good Dog, on the Pet Network.
As always, admission is free, but space is limited, so sign up by calling 604-299-8955.
