The 32nd annual Visions gala, held on Nov. 16 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, raised a total of $2.75 million for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
The evening highlight was the auction of a private suite for Taylor Swift’s sold-out concert in Vancouver, on Dec. 7, which sold for $260,000.
The suite, donated by BC Place, was purchased by the Millar and Glickman families, who split the box to treat their grandchildren.
This high-profile auction item helped drive the evening’s fundraising success, with proceeds supporting surgical innovation at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals.
The event, attended by 620 guests including over 100 local health-care professionals, helped the foundation reach a key milestone in its $17-million It’s Time for Surgical Innovation campaign. Since its inception, the campaign has raised $6 million so far to bring advanced robotics to health care on Vancouver Island.
Dr. Jeff McCracken, chief urologist at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals, spoke about the importance of this technology, particularly for prostate cancer patients, and how it will revolutionize minimally invasive surgery.
“Bringing advanced technologies right to our doorstep means we are no longer limited with what we can accomplish in minimally invasive care,” said McCracken. “We will have state-of-the-art surgical tools in the hands of the incredible surgeons here giving patients the best possible chance for recovery and healing.”
The gala also featured pledges from local businesses and philanthropists, including $500,000 from Andrew Sheret Limited to match gifts from the room.
For more information about the It’s Time for Surgical Innovation campaign, visit victoriahf.ca/itstime.
