Sydney, 25 February 2013 – Sydney’s finest, from Sandra Sully, Charlie Brown, Penne Dennison, Bonnie Lythgoe and Lizzie Buttrose to famous faces Dan and Marnie Ewing, James Kerley and Laura Dundovic, Timomatic, Didier Cohen and songstress Mahalia Barnes all gathered in The Ivy Ballroom today for the third annual SpinalCure Oscars luncheon. The event gave guests the chance to experience the excitement of the Oscars live, raising money for a good cause in the process. As the magic took place in LA, the stars were on the edge of their seats as they waited to see whether Aussie nominess Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts and Jacki Weaver would walk away with the movie industry’s top honours.
Hosted by TV personalities Rodger Corser and Renee Brack, the event proved to be the perfect place to experience the glamour of Hollywood’s night of nights an ocean away here in Sydney. A TV journalist, pop culture commentator, adventurer and movie buff, Renee Brack is well known to Foxtelaudiences having interviewed some of the world’s best known Oscar-winning actors and directors. Rodger Corser is also familiar to television audiences for his roles in Underbelly, Rush, Spirited and most recently, the 2012 Network Ten series, Puberty Blues.
Guests were treated to Cointreau cocktails on arrival, silent auction prizes (still available online until 1 March via spinalcure.org.au), and 3-course lunch that included aranchini, grilled salmon fillet and roast fillet of beef. The event has raised much-needed funds forresearch to permanently end paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
Founded in 1994, SpinalCure has directly raised over $5million for researchers and universities nationally working to develop a permanent cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). With an Australian paralysed every day by spinal cord injuries* and more than 12,000 people currently living with some form of paralysis, it is an issue that strikes at the heart of many families. The organisation has also assisted with raising more than $80million through the establishment of statewide government neurotrauma road safety funds and is an active participant in the International Campaign to Cure Paralysis (ICCP).
For further information on SpinalCure, visit http://www.spinalcure.org.au.
