TV Sci-Fi Stars Help to Raise Over $90,000 at Hunter Syndrome Gala

A star-studded fundraising gala last weekend at Vancouver’s spiffy Sutton Place Hotel has raised over $90,000 for research in Hunter Syndrome, a degenerative disease in children.

The formal event, called the Once Upon a Cure Gala, was attended by a host of familiar faces from TV sci-fi and fantasy, including Sanctuary‘s Amanda Tapping, Ryan Robbins, Robin Dunne, Christopher Heyerdahl, Gillian Horvath and Damian Kindler, Supernatural‘s Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, and Robert Carlyle and Julia Benson from Stargate Universe.

Carlyle is currently appearing in the ABC series Once Upon a Time. Edward Kitsis and Steve Pearlman, who have been executive producers on that show, were also big supporters of the event.

The Once Upon a Cure Gala raised money for Hunter Syndrome Research through ticket sales, donations and live and silent auctions. The latter included items ranging from video games to hockey memorabilia. The preliminary tally of $90,000 was announced on the event’s Twitter feed @onceuponacure.

Also attending the event were Deb and Ryan Purcell, whose seven-year old son Trey was diagnosed with Hunter several years ago. Trey recently became the first Canadian child to receive a new drug treatment for the condition. Ryan Purcell is a camera operator who has worked on many productions in Vancouver, including Sanctuary, Stargate, Fringe and Smallville.

You can find more information on Hunter Syndrome at the websites of the Canadian MPS Society and Once Upon a Cure. Donations can also be made through these sites.