The Del Mar Unit has been very busy planning our event for this year.  The Hats Off event on May Day, held at Paradise Grill in Del Mar, was a huge success. Bill Menish emceed the silent and live auctions, followed by a fashion show hosted by The Rare Earth.  Everyone had a great time and we rose more than expected for the smallest of patients at Rady's Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.   This year our Event Committee, headed by Sheryl Seltser, has spent many months planning Del Mar's 2010 fundraiser.  We are changing things up, our unit will have a whole new look this year.  We will be having an evening event on February 6, 2010 at Anthology in downtown San Diego.  Bill Menish will once again be our emcee. Funds raised will go directly to the Pediatric Chronic Dialysis Department.  It will be amazing and fun will be had by all. 

We give thanks to our busy membership chair, Annette Fargo.  Not only is she the Chaux Talk Editor for the RCHA Board, she is also the Vice President of Membership for the Del Mar Unit.  We have 4 new members this year.  Welcome to Sarah Balancio, Kristin Davis, Caroline Marquez and Michele Wilson. 

This summer, two of our members spent their time filling gift bags for the Rady Children's Hospital Emergency Care Center.  Leslie Moyer and Julie Swartz took on the task to help out families in the ER waiting room with bags of snacks and activities.  Member LeAnn Rytz was so impressed with Fantasy on Ice last year, she decided to be the FOI Chair for the Del Mar Unit this year.  Last winter she took her family out for a skate at Fantasy On Ice. It was a welcomed treat when they discovered that the entire family would be able to enter the ice. The twins, Kacy and MiKayla Stoner, in wheelchairs were able to be on the ice and have a full ice skating experience with their Uncle Josh wheeling and spinning them around. A lot of fun and laughter was had by the entire family. The twins have both spent a lot of time at Rady Children's Hospital, this made the day much more meaningful knowing the benefits of it were going to other children. It was a great family experience, one for the entire family.   Fantasy on Ice opens  on  November  19, 2009 with the Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 2nd.  Take your family out to help support Rady Children's Hospital.

In the photo are Kyle Stoner (Dad), Laura Stoner (Mom), Haylee (age 5), Mikayla (pink blanket) and Kacy Stoner (purple blanket) age 3 and LeAnn Rytz (Auntie)