Teddy Bear’s Tea Party at The Attic, Kuala Lumpur – 7 October 2007
By Dr Evelyn Ho Sunday – 7 Oct 2007 at THE ATTIC and it was a “beary” happy tea party to introduce a marvellous story of life and living with cancer by Annie Smith, PhD, a Canadian who had breast and then ovarian cancer. Annie is an artist, author and lecturer in art history at Sheridan College and an Associate Professor Adjunct at the University of Toronto. Annie’s book is full of drawings of a “bear”, her childhood alter ego to illustrate her spirited story. Her positive approach reverberates through the many tales of the various aspects of diagnosis and treatments, some enough to make one burst out in laughter! The book is titled Bearing Up with Cancer.
Annie’s message was shown on screen and narrated by Ranjit Kaur, President of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association. On hand to lend support was Dr Ednin Hamzah, CEO/Medical Director of Hospis Malaysia, Prof Dr Yip Cheng Har, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Dr Evelyn Ho, President of the College of Radiology, and members of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association to man their “table” selling pink ribbon T-shirts, pink ribbon brooches, and a variety of other pink ribbon items. Annie’s book was on sale at RM 100 per copy.
There was an auction of three Bearing Up with Cancer books, which had been autographed by Annie Smith and personalised with her drawings of the bear. Following this, a 30 minute piano playing entertainment by Mr Ho Kok Yew (a corporate legal eagle by day), at any event or place was “auctioned” off. Paintings by Errol Capel which adorned the wall of The Attic that were purchased on the same day would have a percentage of the proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association. This Attic Book Club meeting coincided with 31 year old Errol Capel’s first solo exhibition entitled Past Present Forms. Every painting had a story behind it, and Errol used his hands to paint.
Earlier Ho Kok Yew had entertained the guests on the piano, while Just Heavenly donated cupcakes for the event. Sarah Shahrom was guest and volunteer emcee. All proceeds from the auction were also donated to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association. Well done to Lorraine Tan, who spearheaded the event and her team at The Attic. |
