Highly Anticipated, Dinning in the Dark, a Great Success!
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On October 2nd, the highly anticipated event, IN/Sight: Dining in the Dark raised just under $100,000 in support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Approximately 200 patrons attended this event held at the prestigious Hotel Arts in Calgary, Alberta. In addition to raising money for research, it also raised awareness of eye diseases that cause blindness and was featured in the Calgary Herald. The unique event was made possible through the passion and efforts of volunteer Chair, Dagmar Jamieson, and her dedicated volunteer team.
"On behalf of The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the individuals and families affected by blindness and researchers searching for cures, we would like to express our appreciation for your participation in our event IN/Sight Dining in the Dark 2008. Because of the efforts of people like you, cures for retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and related retinal diseases are in sight," says Dagmar.
Patrons dined "in the dark", by eating with a blindfold on. All other senses were heightened to savor the smell and taste of their food prepared by the exceptional Chef Duncan Ly. Guests also enjoyed wine pairing by critic Geoff Last of Bin 905. The event also featured the premier of the play “Fade to Light”, a poetic meditation on the nature of vision, written and directed by Eugene Stickland.
"Blindfolds were provided and we ate a three course meal without the use of our sight. As a journalistic exploration, I tried to go as long as I could without lifting my blindfold and peeking. The experience made me aware of just how much I take for granted,” said Eugene Stickland, playwright and Calgary Herald columnist. “Being unable to see in a crowded room immediately makes you feel extremely isolated, even vulnerable. If just sitting there in the dark drinking a glass of wine was difficult, eating proved to be a real adventure -- not bad if I just used my fingers, which is not ideal for eating soup. I don't know that I ever really tasted or noticed the texture of a potato until that meal."
Dagmar, who is affected by Stargardt disease, is a dedicated advocate for the Foundation Fighting Blindness and its plight to find treatments and cures for retinal diseases that cause blindness. All of the proceeds raised will go directly into supporting research grants in Western Canada. This year the FFB will provide $1.2 million to Canada’s finest research scientists at hospitals and universities across Canada. This makes The Foundation Fighting Blindness the largest non-government contributor to vision research in Canada.
A special thanks goes out to all the sponsors and patrons that made this event possible. Without your support cures wouldn’t be in sight.
For more information on IN/Sight: Dining in the Dark, please contact Dagmar Jamieson at 403.229.9753 or visit: www.insightdininginthedark.com.