Tenth garden party benefits Southlake

October 8, 2013 · 0 Comments

The Mennen family at their annual charity Garden Party. Left to right: Nick, Angie Allen, Betty Davis, Lorraine, Armand, Brett and Miran Davis and Karen Di Rocco.
By KWS?Staff

Pathways to Perennials held its 10th annual Art and Jazz Garden Party last week to once again benefit the Southlake cancer unit in Newmarket.
The party featured local art, a live performance by Trilogy Jazz band, raffle tickets for prizes, dinner and much more.
Lorraine Mennen, co-owner of Pathways to Perennials, said the three-hour event raised $3,000 was raised for the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake Hospital. This averages $1,000 an hour! This now brings the 10-year total to over $30,000.
“One thing that I think everybody should know is that every little bit helps,” she said. “All of our suppliers donate product and we sell raffle tickets for the products.
“The community has been very supportive and local businesses too,” Mennen continued. “Brookdale Treeland has donated, Sheridan Nurseries, Stonemen’s Valley, Sisco Food and all the different companies that we do business have all donated, which is awesome.”
The attendees enjoyed a beautiful evening of mouth-watering food prepared by Chef Ron and wife Peti of the Pathways to Perennials Garden Café. While enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and delicacies, they were serenaded by the incredible sounds of The Trilogy Jazz Project.
Visitors were able to peruse the fragrant perennial beds and lifestyle displays that were lit up with outdoor lighting. That’s the thing about garden parties, all you really need in order to throw one is the odd garden bench and refreshments, as the venue is already decorated by nature, and what could be more beautiful? As well, Mennen led visitors to tour Hidcote Hideaway, their wedding gardens that are viewed by private tour only.
Guests enjoyed many forms of art from artists such as The Trilogy Jazz Project, Douglas Myles, and international sculptor Brett Davis. With the beautiful weather, Doug Myles of Mylestones Artistic Creations set up his hand-painted landscapes for all guests to enjoy and admire. Brett Davis of Age of Bronze Studio in King also had many of his bronze sculptures dispersed throughout the gardens.
Dr. Woodrow Wells, lead physician, Radiation Medicine Program at Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, shared a few inspirational words about the importance of contributions such as theirs to their program. The evening was then capped off by a fabulous raffle in which many companies came together to donate prizes for a good cause. The raffle featured more than three dozen fantastic pieces of interior and exterior décor items, plants, trees, garden accessories and many more.
Statistics indicate that by 2014, in York Region alone, as many as 4,500 new cases will be diagnosed each year, almost double the provincial average increase, it is an important cause dear to the hearts of many.
Mennen added supporting the Southlake cancer unit has been very important to her and her family.
“We lost our dad to cancer in his 65th year and Southlake looked after him until he passed away, but that was 16 years ago,” she said. “We said it touches all of us and so many of our clients, friends and neighbours, so we thought let’s support the unit that’s going to give us the treatment in our own backyard.”