The Inside Affair 2013

A Fundraising Hat Trick for the Inside Affair and Fête GASTROnomique

Events in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto Raise $210,000 for the GI Society

The GI Society’s highly respected initiatives touch the lives of millions of Canadians affected by gastrointestinal and liver conditions. Everyone knows someone affected by a digestive disease or disorder, and yet this health area is rarely discussed and critically underfunded. The Inside Affair events in Vancouver and Toronto, and Fête GASTROnomique in Montreal this past October allowed those communities to come together and show support for this patient population, generating more than $210,000 in essential new funds for the GI Society’s charitable work.

At each event, a variety of entertainers delighted the crowds while attendees enjoyed exceptional food and refreshments. Gloria Tsang, a dietitian and founding editor at healthcastle.com, kicked things off in Vancouver as emcee at V by Earl’s Restaurant in Yaletown. “I’m proud to be a friend to the GI Society,” she said. “Our goals and strategies are much the same – we aim to provide simple, honest, evidence-based information that people know they can trust.” All three of the other guest speakers in Vancouver were physicians: James R. Gray, gastroenterologist at the Vancouver General Hospital and Chair of the GI Society; Riad Sherif B., President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., and Treasurer of Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D); and Anna Reid, family physician in Yellowknife, who is also the most recent Past President of the Canadian Medical Association.

A few days later, the Fête GASTROnomique took place at Le Challenger in Saint-Laurent. Denis Boucher, a partner at National PR, emceed the evening with optimism and compassion. Guest speakers included Claude Perron, Second Vice President at Rx&D, and Christiane Laberge, a family physician and media personality who introduced a premiere viewing of the GI Society’s new French language video on IBD. As of this printing, it has already received thousands of views on YouTube.

Gary Fabian, the GI Society’s Executive Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, explained that GI and liver patients are among the most vulnerable in our society. Many of these socially stigmatized diseases are invisible but have debilitating effects on a person’s life. The GI Society’s vital awareness and knowledge transfer activities provide the community with hope, opportunity, and help. The GI Society is also in a unique position to bring patients’ most important concerns all the way up the line, through to health care providers, industry, and government decision-makers. Sustainability of this work is crucial.

The following week, deep in Toronto’s Distillery District at the Fermenting Cellar, supporters gathered once again for a very special Inside Affair evening. John Crean, Managing Partner at National PR, led the proceedings, which included talks from Janssen Inc. president, Chris Halyk, and YouTube legend Dr. Mike Evans, who introduced a viewing of the GI Society’s collaboration, a video on IBD. Since its release last summer, it has garnered more than 16,000 views! The positive feedback for this awareness video has been abundant. Rosalind O’Connell, a Toronto attendee, said, “Dr. Mike Evans was an engaging speaker who is so adept at communicating complex medical concepts in a way that everyone can understand. His whiteboard videos are both educational and entertaining and he should be commended for his contributions to health care both in Canada and abroad. It was a pleasure to be part of such a well-organized and informative event!”

The GI Society’s President & CEO, Gail Attara, also spoke, explaining how all of the important activities of the organization start by putting patients first. Funds raised through these events will support the GI Society’s core knowledge transfer, awareness, and community outreach programs, including patient information pamphlets, online information and outreach, public lectures, the Inside Tract® newsletter, and numerous other crucial initiatives.

We thank the organizations and individuals who recognized the work of the GI Society by sponsoring the event, by purchasing tickets, or by volunteering. Our major sponsors for all three events included, in alphabetical order, Aptalis Pharma, Astra Zeneca Canada Inc., Janssen Inc, Roche Canada, Rx&D, and Takeda Canada Inc. Sponsors of individual events included CMA, LifeScan, A. Lassonde, Le Groupe Maurice, Optimer Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. We also thank National PR and Xerox for their in-kind sponsorships, as well as the dozens of local businesses who contributed high-calibre raffle prizes.

Please Give

Please consider donating to the GI Society. There are many ways to give, including a one-time donation, monthly giving, legacy gifts, and other options. Send your cheque today or make a credit card donation through our secure online portal at www.badgut.org. If you are interested in including the GI Society in your will, call our office to make an appointment to talk personally with our CEO, Gail Attara. Together, we can take charge of managing GI and liver health, diminish the social stigmas around these illnesses, and improve patient access to health care in Canada.