An inspiring response to horrific injury suffered by beloved former Aubergine server.

One moment a longtime local server was running along the side of a road.

The next moment, her legs, ribs and shoulders were smashed by a moving vehicle.

Just as ominously, her organs were battered.

And she was left for dead.

Raquel Ruiz Diaz, who served tables at Aubergine in Carmel for four years and recently moved north to Washington's Lummi Island, was jogging in her home country of Paraguay Feb. 15, during a visit home, when it happened.

The force of the impact caused more than 20 fractures that crumpled her body, while the reportedly drunk driver immediately abandoned the scene.

Even as she has stabilized and emerged from one surgery, she faces four more.

Her local colleagues and friends won't let her do it alone.

Tuesday April 7, 2015 at 12:30pm they are gathering for a #SupportRaquel food-and-wine celebration spearheaded by longtime local winemaker, sommelier and former Aubergine wine director Thomas Perez.

He's tabbing it "an afternoon spent amongst friends with lunch and wine tastings provided from personal collections."

Knowing Perez and his local network—and his nose for wines—it will melt palates almost as much as it does hearts.

It comes with a suggested donation of $100 per person, with a silent auction to follow at the memorable private residence on Riley Ranch Road in Carmel.

RSVP to Perez at tperez36@yahoo.com and visit the Give Forward site for more info.

"Raquel is the nicest person you can ever meet, sweet, very elegant," Perez says. "She's super smart and always wearing a big smile. And she just loves to serve."