The event, organised by Donato Bastone, was attended by enthusiastic guests gathered to support this very important cause, turning an idea into a tangible success.
At the entrance, guests were greeted with champagne and an opportunity for photo taking, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
The opening entertainment was provided by Julie Accordion, who enchanted the audience with her accordion melodies as guests gathered in the lobby.
Upon entering the auditorium, guests were greeted by a catwalk of blue balloons and soft lighting reflecting the colours of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, recipient of the funds raised from the evening.
The evening’s host, Mark Kristian, introduced Bastone and brought him up on stage. During his speech, Bastone shared the touching story behind the idea of the event, explaining that it started in 2013 in memory of his father, Mario, who passed away from prostate cancer the year prior.
The first edition was a great achievement, with more than $20,000 raised in a single night. This initial success prompted Bastone to make the event biennial.
Bastone highlighted the importance of research and information in the fight against prostate cancer, a disease that hits Australian men hard with more than 3700 deaths and 25,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
To date, $150,000 has been raised through events such as this, going directly to research and nursing support through the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The 2024 event sold out in just a few days, thanks to the support of numerous sponsors and friends, including Canada Bay Club, Pat Cole’s Autobody, Family Tree Funerals, Five Dock Pharmacy, Crosbie, Stanmore Mazda, Supreme Floor Solutions, PRB Real Estate, City of Canada Bay and San Antonio Da Padova.
Bastone expressed special thanks to Janine Mara, Fausto Biviano and Matthew Massasso for their key contributions. The evening was then enriched by performances from the legendary duo Gaetano Bonfante and Julie Lea Goodwin, followed by speeches from distinguished Australian entertainment personalities such as Paula Duncan OAM and Tony Bonner AM.
DJ Frank kept guests dancing late into the night with hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s, both in English and Italian, creating an atmosphere of joy and solidarity.
