Sekh’s Party Returns to British Columbia

Sekh’s Party, a key fundraising event for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) is returning this July for a sixth time, in hopes of significantly increasing the $104,000 total raised to date. Held in conjunction with Gatecon, a media related sci-fi convention, Sekh’s Party has gained respect from Vancouver’s acting community and an international community of fans, in addition to being rated as one of the CCFF’s primary fundraisers in British Columbia.

(PRWEB) April 7, 2005

Sekh’s Party, a fundraising event that has raised over $104,000 since 2001 for the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF), is returning to British Columbia. This year’s party will be held at the Best Western Richmond Inn on July 28, 2005. Raffles, celebrity auctions and other activities occurring in conjunction with the media related science-fiction convention known as Gatecon are once again planned. Actors Jr Bourne and Colin Cunningham intend to return as auction hosts, and other celebrity guests are anticipated.

Gatecon itself has signed at least 41 actors representing more sci-fi television series’ than can be named here, including Kevin Sorbo and other cast members of Andromeda; cast members from the current hit Battlestar Galactica; and both Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch, who played the characters Starbuck and Apollo in the original 1970s version of that series. While Sekh’s Party cannot anticipate these particular actors to be in attendance, many of Gatecon’s signed guests in previous years have also participated in the party, often making surprise appearances. All celebrity guests at the party appear entirely on a volunteer basis.

Sekh’s Party’s origins date back to September 2000, when an international group of online friends gathered at Vancouver’s Planet Hollywood prior to the first Gatecon. During the convention, primary party organizers Tricia Smith (aka “Sekh”) and Sandra Hill, both of the UK, met with actor Jr Bourne, whose niece was born with Cystic Fibrosis. Sales of a patch commemorating that first party were pledged in Jr’s behalf to the CCFF, helping to raise a total of $500 and inspiring the team to collaborate on a bigger and better event in 2001. In the following five years that team, together with a full planning committee representing the UK, the US and Israel, managed to meet those expectations and more.

The current, running total of greater than $104,000 in contributions is largely due to raffles and celebrity auctions of items donated by fans and by the cast and crew of Stargate SG-1, a sci-fi series filmed in Vancouver and the focus of Gatecons 2000 through 2004. Celebrity participants have also helped to contribute a significant amount by donating their personal time to lunch dates and other activities won through lucky dips and auctions.

Ms. Smith and Ms. Hill, who dedicate an extraordinary amount of time and effort to planning these events, were recognized as the first non-Canadian recipients of the National Foundation's Julia Award. This award was formally presented to them by Joyce Taylor from the CCFF’s Vancouver Chapter during Sekh’s Party 5 in July 2004.

More details associated with Sekh’s Party and Gatecon, including information on how to register, can be accessed via Gatecon’s website. Advance registration is mandatory for anyone hoping to attend either of these events.

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