Give :: Premier Chefs Dinner

Every year the Magnolia Guild of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center hosts the "Premier Chefs Dinner."  And every year, Mr. Hedin and I go.  We love it.  For all of the crazy boring fundraising events that happen all year in this city, this event is the one bright spot.

Because it's the Hutch and because they are so wildly recognized as a leader in cancer research, they are able to pull off one of the most amazing culinary adventures - and raise a ton of money.  Sunday night more than a half a million dollars was raised by nearly 300 people.  That's a lot of money - for not that many people.

When the invitation showed up this year I almost died.  I immediately emailed the marketing department at the Hutch (to congratulate them on such a fabulous keynote speaker) and called my mother to make sure they were home and could go with us.  The keynote speaker was none other than Ruth Reichl.  If you don't know who she is, google her quickly.  You will be amazed at her resume and her stature in the food world.  I have read all her books, followed her career, and follow her currently on Twitter.  I think she's fabulous - and after listening to her last night - I think she's more fabulous.

While Ruth is fabulous and I would have love to have listened to her all night - it's the food that really draws a crowd.  A handful of the most fabulous chefs in the Seattle area each prepare a dish in - what I can only imagine - is an attempt to 'one-up' each other.

If you like food, you should be at this event.  And if you have yet to choose somewhere to donate money, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is a great place to start.  If you aren't tired of me telling you yet, you should be giving away your money.  Not all of it.  A girl needs shoes.  But you should really give to those places that are doing something you believe in.  

I believe we need a cure for cancer.  Not someday but now.  If anyone is going to find that cure, I believe it is the Hutch and I want to support it.  I don't want another person I know - and love - to die of cancer.  I don't want anyone to see the diagnosis of cancer as a death sentence.  I don't want cancer to win.  

The only way we can make sure that happens is to fund research.  If you don't know how to get involved, email me.  Please.  I'll hook you up with the right people.  If enough of you are interested, we'll tell the Hutch and get a gathering organized to introduce you to everything they are doing.  It's not just a few people in lab coats staring at cancer cells.  It's ridiculously smart scientists researching everything from cancer cells to DNA to fish.  Everything that is living tells us something about how our bodies and the cells within our bodies operates.  Want to know more?  Me too.

P.S. There are amazing events like this that happen all the time.  You can go.  Anyone can go.  Let's go together.