Chinese-Canadian community gathers for the sixth annual Glitter Art Deco Glamour, in support of SickKids

On Saturday, April 27, influential members of the Chinese-Canadian community will gather at The Carlu for the sixth annual Glitter event, a shimmering evening of gaming, art deco glamour, and giving in support of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). This year’s event will feature casino games including the first ever poker tournament, food from Toronto’s top chefs and entertainment by comedian Mark ‘Dashan’ Rowswell – the most famous foreigner in China.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event for such an incredible cause,” says Benny Cheung, Glitter Co-Chair and Chinese Cabinet member. “I am proud that so many members of the Chinese-Canadian community have rallied to make an impact both here where we live, and in the country we come from.”

Canada and China have a strong collaborative history and since 1995 SickKids has partnered with five Chinese hospitals to build sustainable plans for paediatric care and research. SickKids is committed to education both at home and abroad—the Hospital has worked with 230 Chinese medical observers, 80 nurses from Chinese projects, 41 allied health professionals and management leaders, and hosted more than 46 delegations from China, who have come to the Hospital to learn about treatment standards in specific clinical practices. TheChinese Cabinet and Glitter Event Committee, a group of influential members of the Chinese-Canadian community, partners with SickKids Foundation to host Glittereach year. Over the past five years, through events like Glitter, sponsorship and individual donations the Chinese Initiative has raised over $4 million for the hospital.

“As a parent of two young kids, I feel so lucky to have SickKids in my backyard – a place that I know has touched many families in this room,” says Albert Wang, Glitter Co-Chair and SickKids Foundation Board Member. “I am honoured to have the opportunity to give back to SickKids.”

SickKids patient Geoffrey Fang, 15, will kick-off the evening with a heartfelt speech recounting his experience at the hospital. Geoffrey became a SickKids patient in 2014, when he began to experience high fevers, no appetite, no energy, and continual weight loss. He was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening disease of the blood and immune system, from which he fully recovered. In 2016 at a routine follow-up, it was found that he had Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a type of cancer with no cure except for a bone marrow transplant. After multiple, intensive rounds of chemotherapy to bridge to the bone marrow transplant, he was admitted to hospital for five weeks in isolation at SickKids while he received this complex treatment.

Through it all, his spirits never wavered. Now in Grade 10 and attending high school full-time, Geoffrey understands the importance of talking about his illness to benefit other patients as well as raise awareness for the hospital.

100 percent of funds raised by Glitter will go towards the redevelopment of a cardiac operating suite at SickKids. This will contribute to a future that will transform the experience of patients and their families. For kids in Canada, this means state-of-the-art care and fewer complications, and for surgeons from China, this means a place to learn and train that will improve outcomes back at home.