Melting away the winter blues and raising money for a good cause

More than 100 people gathered at Drumlins Country Club Friday night to “Melt Away the Winter Blues” and raise money for the CNY Brain Aneurysm Awareness Campaign.

The nonprofit organization’s mission is to raise awareness and funds in the Central New York area relating to aneurysms, AVMs and hemorrhagic strokes.

This year’s event raised about $10,000 which contributes to more than $50,000 in totals from previous year’s events. All the money benefits patients and research at Crouse Hospital.

Mary Cook, campaign treasurer and aneurysm survivor, said, “It affects everybody around you and it’s so nice to get together in this format, where people are just having a good time.”

Attendees enjoyed dinner, desserts and entertainment provided by Tommy Reitano and American English.

A number of door prizes, raffles and a silent auction as well as spirtit tastings helped warm away the winter blues too. Everyone with a ticket took home a complimentary bottle of wine from Varick Farm Winery.

This year’s honoree was Dr. Raghu Ramaswamy of Crouse Neuroscience Institute.

NewsChannel’s 9’s own, Storm Team Meteorologist Lindsay Raychel, was the emcee.