She's preggo again (thanks to alzahk!)
Royal Bid Against Cancer
Nora Boustany
16 June 2004
The Washington Post
Jordan's King Abdullah was in attendance Monday night, substituting for his
wife, Queen Rania, at the Hope Gala at the Andrew W. Mellon auditorium, a
gathering of royals and glittering personalities for a worthy cause, raising
money for children with cancer.
The king said he is usually called upon for seeking other, more difficult
solutions in the Middle East.
"Today, I talk of a solution that has already been found," said the monarch,
speaking about cancer research and modern cures that can offer hope to the
afflicted. The event was a benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in
Memphis and its partner in Amman, the King Hussein Cancer Center.
Abdullah reminisced about his late father, King Hussein, and said he knew
what it was like to be waiting at the bedside of a loved one for some sign of
improvement, hoping for some scientific breakthrough or treatment that might
make a difference.
"I can only tell you, Rania and I know of the deep emotions of those
moments," he said, also recalling his father's spirit and humanity.
Princess Ghida Talal of Jordan, the chairwoman, spoke movingly about her
husband's recovery from cancer after undergoing treatment 12 years ago.
She met Prince Talal Ben Mohammed, Abdullah's first cousin, while they were
students at Georgetown University. They now have three children.
The event was cast in soft lighting, towering floral arrangements of cream,
yellow and ocher calla lilies and orchids. The mood did not labor with the pain
of loss, instead with commitment to raise money.
Abdullah, for instance, donated a customized and multi-gadgeted Harley-
Davidson motorcycle to a live auction during the event. The bidders on the
Harley-Davidson, among various items auctioned off, were a distinguished
array of Washington insiders and Wall Street stars. They included World Bank
President James D. Wolfensohn and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Kennedy raised his hand repeatedly with demure nods of approval from his
wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, but stopped at $20,000. Finally, the royal bike
fetched $27,000 from Steve Case, the founder and former chairman of
America Online.
The event raised $720,000, organizers said. "Cancer does not have to mean
the end, but also the beginning of a happy, healthy life," said one spokesman
for the Hope Gala. Even the absence of the reigning Jordanian queen had
undertones of hope and new beginnings. She was not feeling very well, one
spokeswoman said; persistent palace rumors in Amman have it that she is
expecting another child.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44705-2004Jun15.html
] to secure throne for her own family only especially that Hamzah just got married...
