Sisters of Soul Raise Money to Fight Breast Cancer

The women of Canadian University College – students, alumni, faculty, and staff – presented the breast cancer benefit concert Sisters of Soul (SOS) on Saturday, October 19th, at the College Heights Christian School gym. The event was organized by staff member Bernice Leavitt joined by staff member Rhanda Bonet-Graham, one of the original founders of the concert series. Pastor Massiel Davila and Alayne Ng Thow Hing emceed the event and brought humour, awareness, and a sense of urgency for the importance of supporting breast cancer research.

 

The evening featured many excellent performances of a variety of genres including soul, folk, country blues, Celtic violin, cultural Indian dance, Gospel, and ballads. The highlight of the evening was the group performance of the Bill Withers classic, “Lean on Me,”  which concluded the evening’s program.  The printed program can be viewed here.

 

 

Sisters of Soul began in 1998 when Rhanda Bonet (now Bonet-Graham), a music major, organized a benefit concert in memory of her mother whom she lost to breast cancer when she was 12 years old. Rhanda, along with students Crystal Sayler and Melayne Shankel and staff member Bernice Leavitt, organized the first Sisters of Soul concert to much success and popularity. This success resulted in four more years of SOS concerts every October benefitting the Canadian Cancer Society (then the recipient of the funds). In 2000, the Canadian Cancer Society awarded Sisters of Soul with a certificate of appreciation for its fundraising efforts. The concert series continued for five years until Rhanda graduated and moved away.

 

Bernice Leavitt reintroduced Sisters of Soul in October 2012 to a new generation of CUC students who decided to take up the cause and present a concert this year as well. Rhanda moved back to Lacombe this summer and was delighted to once again work with Bernice on this exciting event.

 

All proceeds from donations, sale of baked goods, and breast cancer merchandise will benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year’s concert raised a total of $800. This year’s concert far exceeded that of last year and raised a total of $1,886!