The Heart Truth

Hundreds of guests slipped into their fanciest dinner attire and headed to Kelowna’s fifth annual Red Dress gala. It was a sea of red at the Manteo Beach Resort this past October and it was all in the name of raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Heart disease used to be considered “a man’s disease”, but that has changed now, as men and women are both equally being diagnosed in Canada.

The beloved gala is a way to dress up in the brightest of reds, while reminding women of ways to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

During the 2016 gala, 154 guests were treated to songs by Alexandra Babbel of Opera Kelowna, wine by The View, a silent auction and an energetic and beautiful fashion show. Well-known Kelowna residents strutted their stuff on the runway, including Ryan Donn, a councillor with the City of Kelowna. The models held up plaques during the show sharing who they were walking for. Of the nineteen models, four were survivors of heart disease themselves.

While the gala had an important message behind it, the laughs echoed throughout the room. Guests were seen laughing, sipping wine, snapping pictures and mingling with one another.

The best part of the evening, other than seeing what everyone was wearing (Kelowna sure is fashionable), was that more than $30,000 was raised for the Heart Truth Campaign. Wendy Wright, Big Bike & Special Events Coordinator - Heart and Stroke Foundation Okanagan/ Kootenay, says the gala hit the goal this year and they’re still counting donations!

Here are some photos from the event: