Benefiting Puget Sound Blood Center's Thrombosis Center

Gala Dancers Support Research
Swirling skirts and colorful scarves were the trend at the Spring for Life gala in March. Thanks to generous sponsors, guests, and volunteers we raised $200,000 for thrombosis research. And, boy did we have fun doing it!

Guests arrived dressed to the nines and bid generously on silent auction items ranging from car detailing to a sunset cruise on Lake Washington. Once the auction closed the gourmet dinner and evening program commenced.

Click to view image gallery

Marnie Roozen, event chair, had the audience riveted with her charming humor and her heartbreaking personal story. Marnie suffered a stroke while overseas visiting her daughter. No one guessed that such a vibrant, young woman could have a stroke. Thankfully, Marnie recovered fully and is now a strong advocate for the Blood Center’s thrombosis research center. And at Spring for Life, she made advocates of every person in the ballroom.

Another memorable part of the evening were the high-flying, quick-footed dancers from Inferno Dance Vault. Elizabeth Stewart and her partner, Sam Udofia, taught guests a few moves on the dance floor. After the novices tested their talents, Stewart and Udofia tore up the floor with their fiery salsa dance. Then, the Craig Lawrence Band performed rock and roll favorites that got the event guests out of their seats and shaking their stuff.

Maria Arcega-Dunn, Fox 13 News Anchor, emceed the event and shared her own personal story about thrombosis. “I’m not out there doing the news tonight. I’m here because thrombosis has affected my family too.” Thrombosis is unwanted blood clotting and is the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. It affects each and everyone one of us.

Spring for Life was about more than dancing, good food, and mingling with friends. Through this event, generous supporters invested in cutting edge research to help scientists better understand the properties of blood clotting. Together, we will find a cure for thrombosis and the 65 million people it kills each year.