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Gala raises $10,000 for cancer research
BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER
 | | Becky Armstrong, left, was the hardworking co-chair of the Giving Gala event, along with Sally Johnson. Becky's nephew Michael Armstrong, center, and Chris Gregory, right, were two members of "Key West," the Roanoke band that provided excellent entertainment for the dancing portion of the evening. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) |
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WARM SPRINGS - Sparkling. Spectacular. Successful.
Those words best describe the first annual Giving Gala, mounted by the local Bath unit to benefit the American Cancer Society. Months in the planning, the event unfolded without even a hint of a glitch. When the last guest departed, almost $10,000 had been raised.
As the old adage states, "Many hands make light work." While the workload in pulling off such an extravagant party could hardly be called "light," the Bath County cancer society contingent certainly put its heads and hands into the task. Working on the event and silent auction committees were Becky Armstrong, Sally Johnson, Marion Kober, Ann Batley, Kay Alexander, Ramona Garcia, Jessica Stephenson, Pat Foutz, Debbie Young, Olivia Haney, Amy Phillips, Margaret Carpenter and, from the Roanoke office of the ACS, Andrea Britt.
 | | Claire Collins, Karen Diamond and Laura Dascher enjoyed chatting before dinner began. |
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About 90 people gathered for the gala Saturday night, at the restored Old Dairy in Warm Springs. The Bath cancer committee shared sponsorship with the Virginia Hot Springs Preservation Trust, which paid for everything except the food. Beverages were provided by the Gentlemen's Committee - Henley Carter, Don Killoren, Blase McCarthy, Ken McGraw, George Phillips, Randy Shriver, Roscoe "Rocky" Stephenson Jr. and Dane Vincent. Mountain Laurel Creations of Hot Springs furnished the centerpieces, and door prizes were contributed by Laura's Boutique and Merle Norman.
The silent auction portion of the evening provided the thrills and anxiety associated with any competition. Guests glided past the tables, exclaiming at the array of fabulous things. At first, they were perhaps lured by the thought of a bargain; soon, the determination to acquire an item, no matter what the cost, brought them back to bid again. And again. The silent auction raised $7,320.
 | | Dane Vincent, Dabney Pasco and Pat Haynes shared a laugh or two during the cocktail hour. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) |
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Paintings up for bid included art by Patty Biederman, Perlista Henry, Laura Loe Marjorie Platou, Susan Trotter and Vicki Durfee, who also donated a Christmas ornament featuring a handpainted Accommodations and dinner at The Homestead, Fort Lewis Lodge, and The Inn at Gristmill Square drew bidder interest, as did two nights at Overlook (Homestead Preserve) and dinner for 10 catered by Elliott's, and two nights at the Herdsman's Cottage (Homestead Preserve) and dinner for six catered by Michael and Ellen Collins.
Other attractive packages were two nights at the Snowshoe condo of Chad and Katie Rowe of Hot Springs, and a week's stay at the Myrtle Beach condo of the Rev. Walter B. Failes Jr. of Stuarts Draft. Also on the menu was dinner and music for 12, courtesy of Garth Newel, which also donated four VIP tickets to the 2008 Virginia Blues & Jazz Festival.
Those with a hankering for things historical could bid on a package of McDowell history items donated by the Highland County Historical Society and Bath historian Richard L. Armstrong. There was also a 1764 map of Virginia, donated by Carl and Lila Behrens.
 | | Members of the Bath Unit of the American Cancer Society worked diligently for months to plan and pull off the first Giving Gala, held at the Old Dairy Saturday night. From left in front are Margaret Carpenter, Pat Foutz, Olivia Haney, Becky Armstrong, Amy Peery. In back from left, Kay Alexander, Debbie Young, Sally Johnson, Jessica Stephenson, Marion Kober, Andrea Britt, from the Roanoke Valley Office of the American Cancer Society and Ramona Garcia. (Photo courtesy Amy Phillips) |
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Riding lessons, Waterford crystal and cute, cuddly Webkinz animals were there for the taking by the highest bidder, courtesy of Jean Seymour, Jeff and Murphy Wilson, James William Moore Real Estate, and Quilts Unlimited. So were a Tibetan wool rug donated by Anita Back of Seven Oaks Gallery, a Relay for Life quilt donated by Judy Neighbors, and a holiday table runner made by Patricia Liptrap.
 | | Ken McGraw, right, was quite dapper in Scottish dress, as was Frank Connelly, who wore the traditional tuxedo to the black-tie gala. |
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Linda Wesley's Warm Spirit Spa offered two hot-stone massages, and Camp Mont Shenandoah, owned and run by Ann and Jay Batley, offered a Roots & Shoots camp session.
Three months of membership and training sessions at Bacova Wellness Center were provided by Bath County Community Hospital. Mustoe House Antiques offered an antique flame mahogany tea caddy, and Werner Gattinger of f-Stop offered a gift certificate for custom framing.
Dinner, prepared by Josh Elliott of Elliott's Catering, featured a delightful salad, tender medium rare beef with whipped potatoes and green beans, and an almost-indescribable dessert cre- ated with spice cake, decadently dark chocolate, and fresh red and blackberries.
Former Channel 10 news anchor Lee Ann Necessary gave a brief but heartfelt address. The American Cancer Society is close to heart, she noted, because she lost her father and "biggest fan" to leukemia in 1995.
 | | Michael Wildasin, left, boogied with Karen Diamond, while Cindy Dufour and Robin Stevenson, center, and Charles and Mary Ellen Jones, couple on the right, joined in the dancing fun. |
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"The only way to beat cancer is to get in the fight," she said. "And the American Cancer Society is at the forefront of that fight, with its efforts to raise money for awareness and research."
Necessary, accompanied by her husband, John Brownlee, danced and chatted the night away, along with other partygoers. Live music rocked, thanks to the band "Key West" of Roanoke. Clad in Hawaiian shirts, sporting necklaces crafted from Spanish silver coins, the band played a lot of Jimmy Buffett and other beach tunes.
When it all ended, sometime past midnight, committee members surely kicked off their elegant shoes. Then, we might assume, they sat down, took a deep breath, and began thinking about how they might top their initial gala evening. That will truly prove a tough task.
 | | Gala committee member Ramona Garcia, right foreground, and Pat Haynes, center, crowded onto the dance floor to groove to Jimmy Buffett tunes by the Roanoke-based band, "Key West. |
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 | | Former Channel 10 news anchor Lee Ann Necessary was the guest speaker for the American Cancer Society Giving Gala Saturday night at the Old Dairy Barn. She and her husband, John Brownlee, enjoyed dining and dancing with the crowd. (Recorder photos by Margo Oxendine) |
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