The 2023 Parade of Chefs has raised an unprecedented amount of money to buy much-needed equipment for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA).
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHAF) announced on Thursday $192,000 was raised during the popular event at the historic Chatham Armoury on September 28, 2023 following a three-year hiatus.
Proceeds from the event will help buy an Ortho-Vision Swift Analyzer for the Laboratory Transfusion Medicine Department at CKHA.
Hospital leaders noted this crucial piece of equipment will help automate a wide variety of blood tests, allowing the lab to provide safe and compatible blood for patients more efficiently, while reducing turnaround times for these important tests.
“I was delighted to see this event return for the first time since 2019, and to witness firsthand the generosity of this wonderful community,” said CKHA President and CEO Lori Marshall. “The Emergency Department, Obstetrics, Surgical Department, Operating Room, Ambulatory Care, and the Oncology/Cancer Clinic are among the areas most reliant on Transfusion Medicine services, so the strong support that this event received will have a significant impact on many local patients, when they need it the most.”
CKHAF officials said 350 guests were treated to a magical and elegant night.
The Celebrity Host for the evening was Chef Darren McGrady, who previously served as the personal chef for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princes William and Harry for fifteen years.
The evening featured a "distinctly local flavour" with each course prepared by chefs from different local restaurants, made from locally-sourced ingredients, and paired with a wide variety of beverages donated by local wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
"There are so many people and organizations that had a hand in the success of this year’s event, including our sponsors and guests, our local chefs, restaurants and in-kind vendors, our auction donors, and of course the countless volunteers who helped to pull it all together,” said new CKHAF President and CEO Christine Colautti. "It truly takes a village for events like this to come to life and have such a positive impact on our community, and we were blessed to have the support of so many community leaders who stepped up and helped make it happen.”
Chair of the CKHAF Board of Directors Bob Hockney thanked the event sponsors, donors, volunteers, planners, and organizers for enabling "world-class healthcare in Chatham-Kent" through events like Parade of Chefs.
