1. The guys at Hot Tomali have very ravenous appetites, and
2. Making two pans of lasagne in one go is a real pain in the ass.

At the end of October, I created a team and convinced the boys of Hot Tomali to grow moustaches in the name of prostate cancer. Movember is a movement started in Australia, challenging men around the globe to start clean-shaven on November 1st and collect donations for their best ‘stache attempts. Considering at the time we were elbows deep in a website launch promoting men’s health, it seemed a no-brainer for Hot Tomali to participate.

I’ve never been one to pound down doors in a fundraising attempt. As a girl in the choir and on sports teams, I hated the inevitable bake sale/bottle drive/chocolate-covered almond push that was required to raise money for our activities. But as an adult, I’ve come to learn that it’s pretty easy to whip up a plate of something tasty and sell it at the office for ten bucks a head. Last month, for the United Way, it was chili. For Movember, a good, hearty lasagne was in order.

My husband laughed at me as he saw me unloading the groceries. “THREE boxes of pasta? Are you kidding!??” He marvelled as he watched me layer not one, but two, casserole dishes with pasta, sauce, spinach, cheese, and more cheese, and questioned again how many I was feeding. Sure, it looked like a lot of lasagne—and maybe it was a bit excessive—but I didn’t want to be the gal who offered to cook for the team and then come up short. Besides, I thought I’d cooked way too much chili last month, and I watched that pot get licked clean.

My Italian creation was a huge success, despite a slightly overcooked crust. And, just as expected, both pans were quickly devoured. Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to load up our developers on carbs and cheese and then expect them to hit their deadline four hours later—by 3 pm the air in the office was heavy and surprisingly quiet. But in the end, a few hundred dollars raised to further prostate cancer research is always worth a calorie-induced coma.

It’s not too late to donate to Hot Tomali’s Movember cause. If you would like to support our team, please visit our Movember page to make a donation to Prostate Cancer Canada. Any amount—no matter how large or small—is appreciated and has an impact.

We are excited to inform you that two of our employees have signed up to participate in the Ride to Conquer Cancer to benefit the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The 200 km ride from Vancouver to Seattle takes place on June 20-21, 2009. Our involvement in this event is largely driven by stories close to us.

We want to celebrate our journey with you by inviting you to join us for a fundraising party on Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ 5:30 pm at the Railway Club 579 Dunsmuir (at Seymour) http://www.therailwayclub.com Let’s have dinner together in our own private Chill Lounge, socialize, listen to live music, and win great prizes in our raffle! All money raised goes directly to the B.C. Cancer Foundation, which is committed to raising funds to reduce the incidence of cancer, the mortality rate from cancer, and improve the quality of life for those who live with cancer. Your support will help thousands of people, including those Hot Tomali family members, directly affected by this terrible disease.

Admission is only $25.00. Tickets are on sale now! Contact Sabrina at sabrina@hottomali.com or call 604.893.8347. If you can’t make it to our fundraiser, but would still like to do your part, please make an online donation @ www.conquercancer.ca (Click on one of our team members’ names or download a donation form)

We look forward to sharing our journey with you!