Together we fight for the fight against childhood cancer
A first-of-its-kind fundraiser combines entertainment with community support, addressing the emotional and financial strain of childhood cancer diagnoses. Strong local backing from sponsors and 160 expected guests demonstrates community solidarity, with ticket sales at 80% capacity.
- May 9 dinner, dance, and comedy night at St. Dunstan's Anglican Church
- 80% of 160 tickets already sold at $40 each
- Proceeds split between two families with children battling cancer
- 11 local sponsors covering dinner, drinks, music, and venue costs
- Annual softball tournament fundraiser planned for August 22-23
Aldergrove's Mangat family hosts a dinner, dance, and comedy night on May 9 to raise funds for two local families with children battling cancer, with 80% of tickets already sold.
On Saturday evening, May 9, the doors of St. Dunstan's Anglican Church on 264 Street will open to a room full of neighbors, friends, and strangers united by a single purpose: to help two local families whose children are fighting cancer.
The Comedy Night Dinner & Live Music Fundraiser, organized by Jodi Mangat, represents something new for Aldergrove—a first attempt at combining an evening of entertainment with serious fundraising work. The event begins at 5 p.m., and already the community has responded with remarkable speed. Eighty percent of the 160 available tickets have sold, a sign that people understand what's at stake. The money raised will be divided equally between the two families, meant to ease both the emotional weight and the financial burden that a child's cancer diagnosis inevitably brings.
Mangat has framed the effort simply: "Together we fight." It's a mission statement that captures something essential about what happens in a community when crisis arrives. The fundraiser isn't abstract charity. It's neighbors deciding that two families in their midst shouldn't carry this alone.
What makes the evening possible is a network of local support that extends well beyond Mangat's own efforts. Bonetti Meats, Langley Liquor Store, Sunny Sharma, Aplin Martin, Amson Group, Gurjit NutraMeals, the Aldergrove Elks, Photography by Kyler Emerson, Real Show Productions, and The LowDown Band have all stepped in to cover the major costs—dinner, drinks, live music, the venue itself, plus extras like a photo booth and raffle prizes. This kind of sponsorship infrastructure doesn't materialize by accident. It reflects a community that has decided to show up.
Mangat herself seems struck by what's unfolded. "I am so proud to be part of such a giving community," she said. "The support that we receive with our fundraising efforts is very heartwarming." There's no exaggeration in that statement—just the simple recognition that when you ask people to help, and you ask them clearly, many will say yes.
Tickets are available at $40 each. Anyone interested can reach Mangat directly at 604-825-1594 to secure a spot. The organizers are still hoping to bring in a few additional sponsors before the event, which suggests the work of building this evening is ongoing, not finished.
This fundraiser is not an isolated effort. The Mangat family has already established a pattern of charitable work, and they're planning ahead. In late August—the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd—their annual softball tournament will return, another opportunity for the community to gather and contribute. What began as a response to two families in crisis appears to be becoming something more durable: a rhythm of giving, a way for Aldergrove to sustain its support over time.
Notable Quotes
I am so proud to be part of such a giving community. The support that we receive with our fundraising efforts is very heartwarming.— Jodi Mangat, event organizer
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a first-time fundraiser like this one matter? There are charity events everywhere.
Because it's not abstract. Two specific children in this town are sick right now, and their families are drowning. This event says: we see you, we're not looking away, and we're going to sit down together and help.
The ticket sales are already at 80 percent. What does that tell you about Aldergrove?
It tells you that when someone in the community stands up and says "I'm going to do this," people believe them and show up. Jodi Mangat didn't need to convince anyone that childhood cancer matters. She just needed to give them a way to act.
There are a lot of sponsors listed. How does that change the equation?
It means the money people pay for tickets actually goes to the families. The sponsors are covering the cost of the evening itself—the food, the music, the venue. That's the difference between a fundraiser that raises money and one that mostly pays for itself.
What happens after May 9?
The work doesn't stop. There's a softball tournament in August. This is becoming a pattern, a way for the community to stay connected to these families over time, not just have one night and move on.
Do you think other communities could do this?
Absolutely. But it requires someone willing to make the first call, to ask for help, to believe their neighbors will answer. Mangat did that. Now it's a template.