The inaugural National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) charity gala, The First Beat, was a multisensorial extravaganza spanning culinary pleasures, perfume personalisation, visual art displays and spectacular entertainment including an aerial cube performance. NHCS medical director Terrance Chua delivered an engaging speech, while guest of honour, minister for defence Ng Eng Hen, presented tokens of appreciation to donors who made generous contributions for a series of sculptures by students of the School of the Arts. The donations, together with an auction of items such as art and rare wines raised $764,950 for the NHCS Heart2Heart Fund, which supports needy patients and cardiovascular research.