About the SnowBall
What is the SnowBall?
The SnowBall is a charity cocktail party for the Alberta Cancer Foundation in support of the Cross Cancer Institute. Funds are raised through ticket sales and donations, and through a silent auction and raffle at the event. There are cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dancing.
Who started this thing?
The SnowBall was founded by Margo Schulte McKinnon in December 2003. Margo was diagnosed with follicular Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in August 2002, four months after giving birth to identical twin girls. Follicular Lymphoma is a slow growing cancer of the white blood cells and is as yet incurable. Because Margo had very large masses in her abdomen (over 17 cm in diameter) she had to undergo very strong chemotherapy combined with a new immunotherapy drug. After 10 months of treatment and then remission, Margo wanted to celebrate her life and her new hair. In December 2003, she planned a party in a community center, burned her own dance CD, and made her friends pay admission. All the proceeds went to buy 30 new wigs at the Cross Cancer Institute and the SnowBall was on its way.
The SnowBall has contributed the following items to the Cross Cancer Institute.
- 2003: 30 new wigs at the Wig salon
- 2004: Blanket warmers for the Chemotherapy day unit.
- 2005: Flat screen T.V.s for Chemotherapy day unit
- 2006: the Arts in Medicine Program at the Cross
- 2007: Chemo chairs and in-surgery stretchers
- 2008: Non-powered, dynamic pressure relieving mattresses
This year, the event will contribute proceeds raised at the November fundraiser toward the purchase of a diagnostic testing machine that determines what type of chemotherapy is required - a typical concern where aggressive lymphoma cancers need to be treated immediately.