Six community members gathered for a small dinner party recently and as conversation crested it was discovered that three were battling cancer. All of them were women.
At that point it was confirmed that Miracle Theatre targeting their fundraising efforts at breast cancer prevention and detection was the right thing to do.
Miracle Theatre's Ted Price, director and set designer, and Anne Laughlin, producer, will donate proceeds from their upcoming comedy production of The Last Romance by Tony award winner, Joe DiPietro, to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. The production will go Feb. 17 to March 5, 2017 at donated venue Art Space, above Books & Co., with the goal of raising $50,000 for cancer clinic equipment.
This will be the 72nd professional play Price and Laughlin have produced, directed or designed in Prince George since 1994.
Last year Miracle Theatre presented Miracle on South Division Street and raised $42,294.35 for the children's programs at the Salvation Army Food Bank and 27 Million Voices.
"We were so encouraged by the enthusiasm of the audience and the amount of money raised we decided to take on a second production," said Laughlin.
Billy Vickers, an actor who is a favourite of local audiences, will star in the production as lead character Ralph the widower, who meets and falls in love with Carol at the dog park. Vickers wife, Karen Wood, will play his reluctant love interest.
"The Spirit of the North is extremely happy to have been chosen as the charity of choice by Miracle Theatre," said Judy Neiser, chief executive officer for the Spirit of the North. In October 2017 UHNBC will have an in-house breast health clinic.
"The proceeds coming from the fundraiser will go a long way to support the equipment that is required for the project," said Neiser.
Facilities that offer mammograms in Prince George and the rest of the province have analog technology and to enhance the diagnostic capabilities UHNBC is switching to digital mammography, which is supported by the provincial government, explained Neiser.
"But there are so many other pieces of equipment that go with it and Northern Health wants to detect more quickly and more accurately and that goes for every kind of diagnostic equipment, not just breast health diagnostics," said Neiser.
Laughlin is a blood cancer survivor who requires ongoing maintenance to assure the disease remains in remission. There is no cure for Laughlin, Price said. The other two women at the dinner party are battling different stages of breast cancer, he added.
"I was more frightened than Anne - she was the brave one," said Price, talking about when Laughlin was first diagnosed. "We were so impressed with the treatment offered at the local clinic. Not just the medical treatment but how she was treated as a person walking in the door. It was really impressive. So we want to make sure everyone else has these advantages as well."
Tickets for the play are $30 and will be available at Books & Co. and by phone at 250-563-6637.
