Christine Carrillo The quarter-mile “Walk for Leilani”...
Christine Carrillo
The quarter-mile “Walk for Leilani” at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa
served as an enclave Sunday afternoon for people within the community
who wanted to lend their support and donate their money to help the
4-year-old girl who touched their hearts.
Leilani Gutierrez, the focus of the event, was rendered a
quadriplegic after suffering serious chest and head injuries in a car
accident on Mother’s Day. In an effort to raise money to help pay for
the medical equipment the Gutierrez family will need to take care of
Leilani at home, three former co-workers of Leilani’s mother, June
Gutierrez, decided to organize a walkathon.
The event, coordinated by Tina Reed, Amy Duffield and Priscilla
Riddell, turned into a much larger success than any of them
anticipated.
“I didn’t think it would be this big,” Reed said. “I totally just
want to cry because it’s so wonderful.”
Tears were also close for Leilani’s grandfather, Joe Gutierrez,
who had to fight them back as he spoke about how the community
support has helped his family.
“It gives us hope when people respond like this to us,” he said.
“And we hope to respond to them the same way.”
Many of the participants already felt touched by the young girl
and her family.
“I can’t imagine that happening to my child,” said Eileen Anderson
who worked with Leilani at the Harry and Grace Steele Children’s
Center at Orange Coast College. “When you have children it really
touches you a lot.”
Relatives, friends and co-workers weren’t the only ones that
attended the event. Participants also included individuals merely
moved by the young girl’s story.
“Just the feeling that I’m so privileged with my life...I’d like
to show that I care,” said Irvine resident Jens Biermeier, who read
about the little girl and decided to do what he could to help. “This
is the first time I’ve gotten out of my own backyard and helped with
the community.”
It is a community filled with people that simply wanted to do what
they could.
“I think it’s terrific,” said Costa Mesa Mayor Linda Dixon. “As a
community we need to come together and give support. We should never
get so big that we can’t give back as a community.”
The Sunday event proved to the Gutierrez family that people really
do care.
“I feel really overwhelmed,” June said. “It’s helped us knowing
how many people care.”
The family was astonished at just how many people showed up for
the event.
“I can’t believe all of the support,” she said. “I’m amazed at how
many people are touched by my daughter because she touches me.”
With posters, banners and shirts containing messages of love for
the young girl who remained at the Health Bridge Children’s
Rehabilitation Hospital during the event, participants never forgot
why they were there.
“We love Leilani more than anything in the world,” Reed said.
“This is all for her.”
* CHRISTINE CARRILLO is the news assistant. She may be reached at
(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.
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