Realtor-led band performs to raise funds for cancer care

“Chains Addiction’ Left to right: Kelvin Schmidt, Joe Bhango, Ryan Kozicki, Dmitry Vaintraub

In a heartwarming fusion of real estate and rock ‘n’ roll, a group of musically inclined Realtors recently turned up the volume for a cause close to their hearts. The band, aptly named Chains Addiction, delivered a sold-out performance at The Wolf Bar in Vancouver, channelling the spirit of ’90s grunge to raise funds for InspireHealth, a B.C. nonprofit helping cancer patients and caregivers.

Leading the charge was Joe Bhango, with Sutton Centre Realty, who, alongside bandmates Ryan Kozicki, Kelvin Schmidt, and Dmitry Vaintraub, transformed their inaugural gig into a philanthropic powerhouse. 

“Music has the power to bring people together, and we wanted our first performance to be about more than just entertainment—we wanted to make a difference,” Bhango shared. “I learned about InspireHealth through my longtime colleague Emily Coates, and the band and I are grateful to contribute to their mission.” 

The Home Foundation amplified the event’s impact by matching donations dollar-for-dollar, culminating in a $5,729.64 cheque presented to InspireHealth. Emily Coates, Broker Owner of Sutton Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC, and a cancer survivor herself, expressed her pride in supporting the initiative. “Through my own cancer journey, I was able to lean on InspireHealth, and I know firsthand the integrative cancer care that they offer to patients and caregivers,” she shares.​

Cheque presentation, left to right: Emily Coates, Pinn Luk, Loveena Chera, Joe Bhango, Dmitry Vaintraub, Kelvin Schmidt, and Murvin Lai

“Individual donors like Joe Bhango, CHAINS ADDICTION, Emily Coates, and the fantastic support of The Home Foundation are crucial to the ability of InspireHealth to provide free cancer care programs in BC,” says Loveena Chera, CEO of InspireHealth. “Because of your support, we can continue to support the 34,000 newly diagnosed patients in BC every year.”