At one point in the live auction, an appeal was made asking the 1,300 people attendance to donate in support of mental health. As amounts were called out by Auctioneer Graham Crow, people held up their bid cards at the level they wanted to make a donation.

In 10 minutes, the appeal raised $78,000 for London Health Sciences Foundation's Mental Health Campaign. By the night's end the total raised from the auction topped $1 million (gross).

Mental Health Services at LHSC is among the few programs of its kind in Canada to address the entire lifespan, with a treatment model based on the knowledge that earlier interventions produce better outcomes. The Mental Health Campaign's $12 million goal includes support for the hospital's Early Intervention and Transition Age Programs, Mental Health Patient Assistance Program, Research and Innovation Catalyst Program, and other initiatives.

The appeal was just one of the many highlights from an evening where attendees dressed down in country duds, enjoyed a gourmet BBQ dinner, and shopped their way through hundreds of fabulous live and silent auction items.

"It takes committed partners like Siskinds, and Shoppers Drug Mart, along with dedicated volunteers and great donors to make events like this so successful", says CCA Co-Chair Mike Malleck. "The CCA has become the largest and longest-running charity auction in the region because of our amazing supporters."