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.