Organizers are thrilled after a Ukrainian-themed fundraising supper collected enough money to donate a record-setting $7,360 to Alzheimer's Manitoba.

The dinner was held in Carman Friday, Feb. 24, after a three year hiatus. For the past 12 years, the dinner was an annual event.

Bob Kowalchuk and Harvey Kehler organized the fundraiser again after Kehlers mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's late last year.

"We weren't sure how the community would respond," Kowalchuk admitted, "But boy, they really came through with flying colours."

Before all the bills were paid, donations were estimated at $5,000, already a generous amount. However, the $7,600 total surpassed the previous dinner three years ago by over $1,000.

"We were really happy about that," said Kowalchuk.

He notes that after he announced the Ukrainian dinner was returning, people stopped him on the street expressing how excited they were about it, especially the menu of traditional Ukrainian food.

Kowalchuk started the fundraising dinner initially because of his mother, who had Alzheimer's and loved her native Ukrainian meals. He knows that many of the people who attended and donated have loved ones with the disease.

Both Kowalchuk and Kehler are still deciding whether or not to hold another fundraising supper next year.

CKMW - Candace Derksen/Thomas Guenther