Dwayne Gretzky to headline concert fundraiser in support of Hamilton hospital
Published July 20, 2023 at 3:42 pm
It will be a night of nostalgia, dinner, drinks and dancing – all for a good cause.
Popular Canadian cover band Dwayne Gretzky has teamed up with the community to support Hamilton General Hospital.
From Fleetwood Mac to Fatboy Slim, the Toronto cover band will take concertgoers on a nostalgic trip to hear the greatest hits from rock, soul and pop songs from the past and present.
The band, which describes itself as a cheeky tribute to Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, will headline The Rise Up for The Hamilton General fundraiser on Oct. 21 at Hamilton Convention Centre (1 Summers Lane) from 6 p.m. to midnight.
“We’re thrilled to be part of such a great event for a wonderful cause,” said Dwayne Gretzky in a statement. “If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that we would be nowhere without the incredible sacrifices made by dedicated and skilled healthcare professionals. We hope this fundraiser is a huge success for the fine folks at The Hamilton General and we can’t wait to bring the party for a celebratory evening.”
One hundred per cent of the funds raised from the event will go towards “innovative equipment and technology” at the hospital. The regional healthcare centre specializes in areas such as cardiac and vascular care, neuroscience, trauma and burn treatment, stroke and rehabilitation.
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“Fundraising events like The Rise Up are vital in supporting the purchase of equipment that assists healthcare workers in providing the best possible care,” said Pearl Veenema, CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, in a statement. “I am so grateful for all the time, effort and generosity that goes into running The Rise Up and I know that this event will help empower healthcare excellence at Hamilton General Hospital and positively impact countless lives.”
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A VIP cocktail reception begins at 5:30, with a VIP dinner at 6:15. The main concert doors open at 7 p.m. and Hamilton talent will perform. At 8:15 p.m., Dwayne Gretzky will hit the stage. There will be a live auction and raffle at 9:15. House music and a final raffle will be held at 10:45 p.m. Organizers are working out details on the Hamilton talent and the auction and raffle.
Tickets are now being sold at discounted prices: General Admission ($150); Premium ($329); and VIP ($559).
They can be purchased at www.theriseupfundraiser.com,
- General Admission includes: Open bar, full concert access, access to auction and swag bag
- Premium: full concert access, access to premium VIP open bar, access to VIP room during the concert, access to VIP terrace, access to auction and premium swag bag.
- VIP: full event access, including dinner and express entry into the concert, access to premium VIP open bar, access to VIP room during the concert with snacks and networking, access to VIP terrace, access to auction and VIP swag bag.
Andrew Cigna, partner with Above All Group in Hamilton, assembled local organizers and volunteers to host the concert fundraiser. Above All Group is a commercial and investment real estate company and private equity firm.
For Cigna, helping the hospital hits close to home. In late 2022, the business leader’s mother was admitted to the Hamilton General for three weeks for an undisclosed reason and experienced first-hand the challenges facing healthcare workers.
Local business leader Andrew Cigna organized The Rise Up for The Hamilton General fundraiser, which happens on Oct. 21 at Hamilton Convention Centre.