The Dream Inspired Charity Gala benefiting Epilepsy Durham Region drew out numerous campus notables including several from the executive level. From left to right: Anthony Boland, vice-president, Campus Life, The Student Association; Amy England, president, The SA; Don Lovisa, president, Durham College; and Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president, UOIT.

The Student Association (SA) joined in the cause to raise epilepsy awareness on March 25 when it hosted the Dream Inspired Charity Gala to benefit Epilepsy Durham Region.

The gala, which also celebrated the graduating class of 2010, was held at Oshawa’s Tosca Banquet and Conference Centre to give graduating students an opportunity to mark the completion of their final year of study while raising awareness of epilepsy and drawing in money to fund research for the disease.

“The feedback has been very positive and I believe that our friends at Epilepsy Durham Region were excited with what we brought to the table,” said Will Ellis, Student Centre manager and one of the evening’s masterminds. “We were able to make a student event support our community. The night was magical.”

The event, which began with a speech by the Honourable James Flaherty, minister of Finance and MP for Whitby-Oshawa, attracted more than 150 attendees including Christine Elliott, MPP for Whitby-Oshawa; Don Lovisa, president of Durham College; and Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Guests were treated to cocktails and an art auction with pieces donated from across Durham Region. Dinner followed, culminating in a live auction hosted by John Gray, mayor of Oshawa, and Kasia Bodurka, co-host of Rogers Daytime. The proceeds are being used to improve Epilepsy Durham Region’s resource library, an up-to-date collection of epilepsy information that is available to the public.

“The effort in making this a successful evening is greatly appreciated by Epilepsy Durham Region,” said Deanna MacDonald, community outreach associate, Epilepsy Durham Region. “We would like to send a special thank you to the graduating students of Durham College, UOIT and Trent for sharing their special evening with us. We congratulate these students and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”

To learn more about Epilepsy Durham Region please visit www.epilepsydurham.com.