Special Events Stories & Photos

October 20, 2008
Colorado Gala, "Evening in Tuscany"

"Evening in Tuscany" A Success

More than 200 people attended the Colorado Gala, “An Evening in Tuscany,” put together by Dave Badesch and Dunbar Ivy of the University of Colorado under the leadership of Deb McCollister, Aimee Doran and Jennifer Davis.

“It felt like old home week with many of the patients and medical professionals we know participating. We appreciate all the hard work and a great evening. In addition, I had the bonus opportunity of touring both Dave’s and Dunbar’s centers on the incredible new University of Colorado medical campus. I didn’t know there were that many clinicians and researchers in the U.S. — much less in one spot,” explains Rino Aldrighetti, PHA president.

“The Colorado PH fundraiser was really cool,” exclaims Cricket Mitchell, a PH patient who attended the festive evening with her husband Tim. She estimates that more than 250 people attended. Cricket especially liked meeting other patients and hearing about their treatments. She discovered that PH can affect anyone at any age (from birth to those in their 80s). Cricket and her husband enjoyed the video of the 8th International PHA Conference. She says, “Tim and I got a glimpse of what goes on at the conference. I am looking forward to attending the 2010 PHA conference in Orange County, California. I encourage everyone in Wyoming to begin saving money so we can all attend.”

Some PH patients also shared their stories at the fundraiser. Cricket states, “I had tears in my eyes when I heard others talk about their stories. I felt their pain and frustration, and I understand what they are going through.”

Proceeds from the event will be used to further PH research at the University of Colorado, at Children’s Hospital in Denver, and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.