November 5, 2020Northern Health Foundation Patron and Board Member, Trudi Hay, recently hosted her annual High Tea to raise money for Northern Health Cancer Services.
Trudi has been a dedicated supporter of our cancer services for over ten years. Every year, she hosts a High Tea event to raise funds to support patients undergoing cancer treatment – something very dear to her heart.
However this year the event looked a bit different. Held virtually this year due to the pandemic, Trudi welcomed guests with their cups of tea and grazing boxes.
Guest speakers from Northern Health, Wanda Stelmach, Chief Medical Officer and Melissa Gwynne, Day Oncology Nurse Unit Manager, spoke on the challenges of cancer, general health and wellbeing and caring for our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wanda and Melissa answered questions from guests and encouraged everyone to maintain their routine health checks – because even though we have all been in lockdown, cancer hasn’t been. Wanda thanked Trudi for continuing to host her annual event, despite current challenges, and she also thanked the community for doing the right thing during the second wave.
Over the years, Trudi has raised over $60,000 from her events. This year, the virtual High Tea raised an amazing $11,000.
“While planning for this event, I was very conscious of the fact that people are out of work at the moment and doing it tough, so people didn’t need to donate to be able to participate in the High Tea. It was more about getting the word out and raising awareness of cancer,” Trudi said.
Melissa Gwynne, Day Oncology Nurse Unit Manager, said, “Thank you to Trudi for organising a different High Tea this year and doing such a great job. The funds raised will go towards patient equipment, like an ECG machine that we require to monitor the patient’s heart during chemotherapy in the Day Oncology Unit, and also the patient care bags which will be given to patients utilising our new service – chemotherapy at home”.
“On the wish-list, there were a couple of items and I thought I would be able to buy only one – which was the care packages for patients. Because we raised $11,000, we are able to buy two items from the wish-list, which is the ECG machine, as well as the care packs! Everyone was extremely generous,” Trudi added.
Attendees were treated to musical entertainment and a number of prizes including accommodation packages, beauty packs and beautifully wrapped gift hampers.
Featured Image: Trudi Hay hosting the High Tea from her home
