A swish that could save

Luis Pena

More than four hundred people gathered at Pelican Hill in Newport

Coast to taste wine and raise funds for diabetes research.

There are over 18.2 million Americans suffering from diabetes, a

disease that prevents the body from properly using or producing

insulin, which converts sugars and starches into energy for the body.

Jerry and Ann Stefani wanted to bring the islet cell transplant

program to America, so they formed the North American Foundation for

the Cure of Diabetes. With Taste for the Cure, the foundation raised

funds for the research, which is being done at the University of

Alberta in Canada, and to help bring a transplant center to the West

Coast.

Jonathan Lakey is responsible for the isolation and

transplantation of the islet cells from the pancreas of donors into

the livers of diabetes suffers. The islet transplant is for Type I

diabetes patients only.

“We then take those islets after the end of the isolation process,

and we have about a teaspoon full of cells that we can then

transplant into the liver, Lakey said.

Their goal is to transplant the cells into someone in California

this year. The organization holds a special to the Stefanis because

their 33-year-old son, Brian, suffers from Type I diabetes.

“It just gets bigger every year ... and hopefully, it will

continue to grow and we’ll raise enough money to reach our goals,”

Stefani said.

Dottie Denes of Villa Park, who has been suffering from diabetes

for 47 years, has been selected for the islet transplant.

“This has been a dream that I have always had, and I am very

anxious for it to come to fruition, and I know that it’s going to,”

Denes said.

Denes said that if it weren’t for the foundation and its

fundraisers such as the Taste for the Cure, she wouldn’t be having

the transplant in the near future.

“I can not wait until this dream of not having to get up every

morning, afternoon, dinner time, bed time to take insulin,” Denes

said. “Hopefully, it will be over soon.”

The event included a silent auction for wines, baskets, cooking

classes, trips, golf packages and even a puppy. There was also a live

auction for collector wines such as Screaming Eagle, Opus 1, Bryant,

Ferrari Carrano, B.V. Private Reserve, Martha’s Vineyard, Insignia,

Isosceles and Chalk Hill. There was also a guitar autographed by Hugh

Heffner and former Playboy playmates of the year.

Bidding was fierce among the participants as the auctioneer spoke

with lightening speed to keep up with the rising bids.

One of the fierce bidders during the live auction was Tony Nobles

of Fountain Valley, who spent $10,000 last year and was going to top

himself this year.

“It really, really helps, and if you are going to buy [wine], why

not help charity at the same time,” Nobles said.

Nobles got his bid for several bottles of Screaming Eagle Cabernet

up to $6,000 when his wife kicked him under the table because she

wanted to bid on some other items.

“Bottom line: It’s all for charity,” Noble said.

“It’s a charity, and it’s better than donating cloths,” John

O’Connor said. “I’m a pseudo wine drinker, and it’s a beautiful day

at Pelican Hill, and it’s a good cause. Why not?”

The event raised almost $200,000, Stefani said.

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at luis.pena@latimes.com.