See.Taste.Do

Curation of things you can "see, taste and do"

Sydney Chocolate Ball 2016 :: FSHD Global Research Foundation

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Who would’ve thought raising money for a charity could be so much fun! I was invited to the Seventh Annual Sydney Chocoloate Ball run by the FSHD Global Research Foundation last Saturday evening at The Star Event Centre in Sydney. This event wasn’t only about raising money but it was about giving guests a spectacular dining and entertainment experience without its purpose being lost in all its lavishness. This event had the support and attendance of high profile Australian influencers and whether it be chocolate or a deep passion to support the foundation to find a cure for the disease, Saturday’s night’s event was quite extraordinary.

 
Chocolate appreciation with my good friends Pradnya and Tej.

Firstly, what FSHD Global Research Foundation is about. Essentially, FSHD or facioscapulohumeral dystrophy is a muscle disease that involves the weakening or the wasting of the muscles. For a non-medical person, it’s all well and good for someone to describe it to me but I understood the profoundness and severity of the disease at the ball when I watched the guest speakers who were themselves sufferers of the disease, with extraordinarily strength and courage, spoke of how FSHD impacted on their lives and how they have dealt with living with the disease.

The link with chocolate is that it is said foods rich in anti-oxidants are thought to have a positive effect on FSHD, so with that in mind, the Foundation decided to use the indulgence of rich chocolate as the theme for their annual fundraising ball … not to mention chocolate is one of the most shared #foodporn images on social media – a sure way to get the word out there.

Some notable people in attendance include Bill Moss AO, Founder and Chairman of the FSHD Global Research Foundation, a sufferer of FSHD who established the organisation with the sole desire to find a treatment and a cure.  


Hosted by long time FSHD Foundation Patron Jamie Durie OAM, The Sydney Chocolate Ball is a chocolate extravaganza, featuring a Chocolate infused 3-course menu, by celebrity chef and Foundation Patron Luke Mangan and some of the world’s finest champagnes free flowing all night long (Krug for Diamond sponsors, Dom Pérignon for Platinum and Moët & Chandon for Gold), not to mention free flowing white and milk chocolate fondant all night. Endless #foodporn photo op!

I sat on the same table as some notable Australian influencers on Saturday night including entrepreneur, Shark Tank’s and Red Balloon’s Naomi Simson and MTV’s Krit. I was on ‘a high’ pretty much all night not only from the consumption of chocolate but the energy and spirit of the people I met and listened to that night.

If you missed this year’s ball, you can already start to register for next year’s Chocolate Ball. For more information about FSHD Global Research Foundation you can visit www.fshdglobal.org

I’ll leave you with some delicious food photos from Saturday night’s ball and the wonderful and interesting people I met.

Getting to know MTV’s Krit over chocolate

From left to right: Took this quick iphone shot of Stuart King (partner of Naomi Simson), entrepreneur and Shark Tank’s Naomi Simson; World Surfing Champion, Layne Beachley and INXS original artist and guitarist, Kirk Pengilly having a ball over chocolate!