Photos: 5th Annual Taste for Life Gala

Scenes from this past weekend’s Taste for Life Gala, which raised more than $100,000 for BC Oral Cancer Prevention.

Hip-hop artist Prevail and his wife, Keilani Elizabeth Rose, recently crowned Miss Asian Vancouver, were among the notable names that made the Taste for Life benefit.

Vancouver firefighter Henri Persaud and his girlfriend Tamara Letkeman took in the South Asian-themed charity dinner. Always an auction highlight, the firemen’s dinner raised $16,000 for the cause.

Harv Phandal and her husband Dr. Dhar Dhanda were among South Asian leaders who supported the oral cancer event. Some of the highest oral cancer rates in the world are in South Asian countries.

CTV’s Norma Reid emceed Brenda Currie’s fifth Taste for Life event at the Terminal City Club. Currie founded the event to raise awareness of the lesser-known, but often deadly cancer.

The Taste for Life event produced by the Social Concierge‘s Jordan Kallman and Tyson Villeneuve featured celebrity chef Vikram Vij.

A supporter since its inaugural staging, former B.C. Lion’s kicker Paul McCallum made the scene with his wife Victoria Ward. 

Developer Robin Dhir and Dr. Bhurji Pargat were among South Asian community leaders who supported the oral cancer effort. 

Jane Merling, chief fundraiser at the UBC Faculty of Dentistry and Sarah Roth, newly appointed CEO of the B.C. Cancer Foundation, took in the fundraising dinner and auction that generated more than $100,000 to go towards oral cancer clinics at UBC and Surrey.

Terminal City Club executive chef Greg Van Poppel and General Manager Peter Jackman hosted some 250 guests for the evening to conquer oral cancer.

Taste for Life honourary chairs Vineet and Lata Kochar helped raise awareness of the high rate of oral cancer in the South Asian community.

Britton Diamonds‘ Renee Chan donated a pair of 18-karat white and yellow gold diamond earrings—valued at $10,000—to the cause, modelled by singer Tara Wilson.

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