Going once, going twice, a quilt sold for $12,000 at the Annual Talent Cancer Auction.
“That’s the most that quilt has ever drawn. It was just absolutely amazing,” Doug Kydd said, who has been an auctioneer for the event for over 25 years.
Approximately 125 people were at the auction held at the Moose Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 6. One of the annual prized items is a quilt by artist Lizette Croft. She spends months designing a scene with fabrics and dye. This year, Croft donated a quilt with a scene of Cow Bay Cafe.
Those who attend the auction usually donate hand made gifts, and baskets, but the quilt is one of the most coveted items.
“Lizette does a phenomenal job every year and always raises considerable funds for the auction,” Sharon Stromdahl said, the lead organizer for the annual cancer auction.
There were some new faces at the auction this year, Stromdahl said, all were willing to open their wallets and contribute to raising money to purchase equipment for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.
“This year blew the lid off all the previous years’ records,” Kydd said.
Typically, he said, they raise under $40,000 — but this year they raised $51,900 with donated items from the community.
Dr. Marius Pienaar kicked off the night and spoke to the successes of the event. Twenty-five years ago, the hospital purchased a piece of equipement for Dr. Pienaar with funds raised at the cancer auction.
“At the time he was the only gynocologist who could afford the equipment within the region and he was really proud that our hospital had that piece of equipment,” Stromdahl said.
Last year, after another successful auction, Dr. Pienaar was able to replace the equipment. The ladies who take part in the auction also look to leverage the money raised by partnering with other groups such as the Port of Prince Rupert and the North Coast Health Improvement society.
They’ve been able to purchase scopes worth well over $100,000, nicer pumps for patients who receive chemo treatment and other devices for the operating room.
With the money raised this year, Stromdahl said they’re planning to support the hospital in remodeling the cancer facility.
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For those who haven’t experienced the annual cancer auction, there is a hostess for each of the six tables. The hostess is responsible for inviting guests. For the past 20 years, Stromdahl said mostly women attend with the exception of the male auctioneers.
Tobie Wick hosted one of the tables bringing in her own donation to auction off as well as items from other people who couldn’t attend the auction.
“Most people bring something they’ve made, or they put together different baskets and it’s pretty generous. It’s nice that the money stays local to go back into the hospital,” Tobie Wick said. This was her fifth year at the auction.
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shannon.lough@thenorthernview.com
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