Diabetes Foundation Shows Style
The event: The 11th annual fashion show staged by Fashion Island in Newport Beach to raise funds for the Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research Education Foundation. Held Saturday in Bloomingdale’s courtyard, the show starred children and teens who have diabetes as well as professional models sporting the latest spring styles.
Swinging into spring: About 800 guests sampled cuisine from local restaurants, viewed the fashions and swing-danced. “Usually we do a luncheon in a hotel, but we thought we’d try something different,” said Elgene Van Dyk, event chairwoman. “By having an evening event, we’ve attracted a whole new crowd.”
Many young couples gathered in Hollywood Bowl-style box seats for the show, which began and ended with a parade of children and teens who have diabetes.
The Pump Girls, four diabetic teens from Orange County, danced on stage wearing insulin pumps. “I think we’re changing the face of diabetes,” said member Sara Cronstedt, 15, of Mission Viejo. “Everyone enjoys music and we deliver a fun message.”
Support for families: PADRE was established in 1985 and provides programs to support children with diabetes and their families at Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Orange and Children’s Hospital at Mission in Mission Viejo.
Services include support groups and education programs. PADRE also funds research aimed at finding a cause, cure and prevention of children’s diabetes.
“Our 17-year-old daughter, Andrea, is diabetic,” Van Dyk said. “When she was first diagnosed, I didn’t know who to go to for help, and PADRE took us in.”
Quote: “This event is about diabetic children taking control of their illness and managing their lives,” said Jackie Teichmann, executive director of PADRE “We wanted to spread the message that they can be whatever they want to be.”
Bottom line: The fashion show was expected to net $200,000 for PADRE programs.
Faces: Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999, a diabetic from Tampa, Fla., who travels the world as a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Assn.; Pump Girls Sarah Ann Carey, Brittany Rausch and Colleen Cottrell; Tom Pavlik; Cathy Syhre; Andy Van Dyk; Harvey and Carla Kallen; Dick and Valerie Rafferty; and Dorothy Dowlinger.
What’s ahead: The second annual Larry Syhre Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit PADRE on May 1 at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club. Call (714) 532-8330 or (714) 970-9140.
