Sequim Gazette staff

Event organizers are calling the ninth annual Harvest of Hope Gala on Oct. 22 the most successful in the history of the event. 

With about 200 people gathered at Sunland Golf & Country Club in Sequim to experience “An Evening

in Australia,” attendees raised $131,000 to benefit patients being treated at Olympic Medical Cancer Center in Sequim — a fundraising record for this event.

“We are so appreciative of our generous corporate sponsors, attendees and individual donors,” event chairman Sara Maloney said.

A compelling component of the evening was Rhonda Rose sharing details of the cancer journey she shared with her late husband Christian Hans Petersen.

The audience rewarded her courage by donating a record $49,400 to the “Fund a Need” portion of the fundraiser.

These funds will be designated to an integrative medicine program that will be available soon to OMCC patients.

The event’s “presenting sponsor” was the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, which this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Platinum sponsor was Expeditions Northwest and Silver sponsors included 7 Cedars Casino, Avamere Olympic Rehabilitation of Sequim, Karen Rogers Consulting, KeyBank, the Sequim Gazette and Sequim Health and Rehabilitation.