Weddings that help medical research

Weddings that help medical research

By Isobel Rivera

TORONTO–When Sabrina and Marco Di Cesare were planning their Summer 2005 wedding in Toronto, they had more than the usual thoughts of how to honour their families on the big day.

“Last year we both lost many close relatives to cancer, and it was a tough time for us,” says Sabrina. On top of that, her mother was facing a third brain tumour, and her father had received an emergency quadruple bypass. Both were being treated at University Health Network hospitals.

“Throughout the course of my mother’s surgeries, the knowledge and technology in health care improved dramatically. The equipment used today to keep an eye on the progression of her third tumour has improved since the first tumour. We wanted to give to research to find a cure, and get better knowledge to fight the disease.”

Sabrina and Marco decided to make a donation to Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, in lieu of a bonbonniere, for their wedding. At each guest’s table setting was a tasteful card, stating that a donation had been made on their behalf to advance medical research at the two hospitals. She says her guests loved the idea, and she and Marco remember their wedding not only as a celebration of their commitment and love for each other, but for having helped the people close to them live a better and healthier life.

Sara Murray of Acton, Ontario is currently planning her April 2006 wedding to Kevin Carruthers, her boyfriend of 15 months. It’s a miracle Sara is even alive. Diagnosed with cystic fybrosis at the age of three months, by the time she was 26 she was hooked up to a respirator in hospital, at the top of the list for a double-lung transplant. Her doctors said without a transplant, her lungs wouldn’t last another six months.

Sara had the transplant at Toronto General Hospital in late 2003, and is now in such good health, she is working toward her certification as a fitness trainer. She credits her life to the transplant program at University Health Network, and plans to make a donation to Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation instead of bonbonnieres at her wedding as well.

“I have so much to be thankful for, I feel the least we can do is give something back,” says Sara. “We are actually going to make a few small chocolates to give out with the card saying we have made a donation on behalf of our guests.”

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(If you are interested in the Wedding Card Program, please contact Isobel Rivera at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. Tel: 416-603-5958 or vidit us at www.tgwhf.uhn.ca.)