10th Annual UCSF Children's Hospital transplant picnic, June 11

WHEN:  11:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday, June 11 (These are the best hours for media—the picnic lasts from 10 am to 4 pm.)

WHAT: At the tenth annual UCSF Children’s Hospital Pediatric Transplant picnic, CHILDREN FROM BABIES TO TEENS WHO’VE HAD KIDNEY OR LIVER TRANSPLANTS—OR ARE WAITING FOR TRANSPLANT—come with parents and families and often the person who donated a kidney or part of a liver to save the child.

THE PICNIC WILL HAVE a Fiesta in the Park theme—folkloric dancers, piñatas, games, food, kayak lessons and more—thanks to volunteers from families, staff and the community.  For observers: a tough time guessing which children have had transplants, and which are siblings and friends.

WHERE: McNear’s Beach, Cantera Road, San Rafael, CA—DIRECTIONS: From Highway 101, take the Central San Rafael exit and go east on Second Street (which becomes San Pedro Road) to Cantera Way. For a map, search for McNear’s Beach County Park at the Marin County website McNear’s Beach County Park

ACCESS FOR REPORTERS AND CAMERAS: At McNear’s Beach, follow the signs to the UCSF Children’s Hospital Transplant Picnic. For introductions to patients, families and caregivers during the picnic, contact Janet Basu, UCSF News Services, who will be attending: page 415-719-0189 or cell phone 415-476-2557 x 1.

The pediatric liver and kidney transplant services at UCSF Children’s Hospital are among the oldest children’s transplant services in the U.S.—children have received transplanted kidneys here since 1964 and transplanted livers since 1989. UCSF’s pediatric specialists and transplant surgeons care for children with failing organs throughout their lives. With innovations such as living-donor liver transplant and improved methods to prevent organ rejection, plus social and emotional support for the family, they work to maintain children’s health and help them to live normal lives.