Students will dine and dance tonight in support of the MacWheelers Spinal Rehabilitation Program.

The eighth annual McMaster Students Union Charity Ball, themed “Vanity Affair”, takes place tonight (Feb. 3) at the Hamilton Convention Centre beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Approximately 1,500 students, alumni, staff and supporters are expected to attend this sold-out event.

“This year's Charity Ball offers a tongue-and-cheek view of Hollywood and celebrity,” says Kyra Machen, Charity Ball chair. “It will offer live entertainment in all rooms, including a Charlie Chaplin impersonator, free caricaturists, full piece swing band, jazz trio, Monte Carlo Casino, and a fantastic array of items for bidding during the Silent Auction.”

Among this year's celebrity dealers include a variety of McMaster professors, faculty representatives, board members and surprise guests.

All proceeds from the event will support MacWheelers, an exercise program for people with spinal cord injury. MacWheelers was born out of research studies done by the kinesiology department at McMaster. It is one of three community-based exercise service programs offered in the Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation. Also located in the centre are the MacTurtles (for cardiac patients) and MacSeniors (for senior citizens). Graduate students in exercise rehabilitation and exercise psychology get involved in many of the ongoing research studies with the Centre.