Gala for a Cure to donate over $12,000 to charities

Canadian Cancer Society accepts $6,060 cheque

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

Posted 1 month ago

The Verdi Club presented a cheque for $6,060 to the Canadian Cancer Society last Wednesday night. The money is part of the proceeds from the Oct. 2 Gala for a Cure. From left: gala chair Sandra Riccio-Muglia, cancer society fundraising co-ordinator Mary Anne Beeson, Verdi Club president Tino Riccio and Verdi Club vice-president Sante D'Amore.

AMHERSTBURG —The results from Gala for a Cure are in and they are impressive.

The gala, which was hosted by the Verdi Club Oct. 2, raised approximately $13,000 and once expenses were paid out, it left roughly $12,100 for charity. This year’s charities are Transition to Betterness and the Canadian Cancer Society. The former will put their share towards children’s programming while the latter will designate their share to their transportation program.

A cheque for $6,060 was given to the Canadian Cancer Society last Wednesday night at the Verdi Club.

Committee chair Sandra Riccio-Muglia and committee member Tino Riccio pointed out that there was roughly half of the attendance of previous years, but they raised just as much.

“We’re very pleased,” said Riccio-Muglia. “I actually found it quite mind-blowing.”

The Riccio family has been touched by cancer, as Anita Riccio-Spagnuolo is a cancer survivor. Riccio-Spagnuolo is also a committee member and is a sister of Riccio-Muglia and daughter of Riccio.

“The people who came were very generous,” said Riccio, who is also Verdi Club president.

With many suffering job losses or other stressful situations during this slow economy, “you can ask for anything better,” he added.

Riccio-Muglia said their sponsors came through again this year. Speakers included Tania Sorge and Doris Lapico from Transition to Betterness and former Canadian Cancer Society CEO Susan Whelan. Whelan is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

“It was very inspiring,” said Riccio.

Canadian Cancer Society fundraising co-ordinator Mary Anne Beeson said they have many volunteer drivers from Amherstburg. The drivers often go as far as London to transport patients for treatment, she noted.

“They’re dedicated,” she said. “They are awesome.”

In 2008, the transportation program provided 6,300 rides to 316 local clients to cancer-related appointments. There are 50 local volunteer drivers who drove approximately 168,000 kilometers last year.