True tag team

Christine Carrillo

Kendall Milteer will complete the 26.2-mile course mapped out for

thousands of Los Angeles Marathon participants on Sunday.

To ensure that he does complete the course, he has trained for it.

The 11-year-old Costa Mesa resident hasn’t trained alone. He

can’t. Nor will he attempt this trek by himself. He’ll do so with the

assistance of another competitor, Grace Castro, who will push his

wheelchair the entire course.

Kendall, who was even nominated for the marathon’s Patsy Choco

Courage Award, has tuberous sclerosis, a neurological disorder

characterized by seizures, mental retardation, skin and eye lesions

and, in some cases, neurobehavioral problems.

Through AbilityFirst, one of Southern California’s largest and

oldest nonprofit social service organizations, Kendall and many other

children like him will get a chance to compete for their cause.

They’ll get a chance to raise money for their Newport-Mesa

After-School Center in Costa Mesa.

Established in 1999 by Castro, who now works as the supervisor,

the center has trained children within the AbilityFirst program to

participate in the marathon for the past four years. This year, the

center has more than 30 people participating in the marathon and

hopes to raise about $5,000 from sponsors for the center.

“It’s very wonderful seeing the children together and playing and

getting along,” said Kendall’s mother, Brenda Latimere, who works as

a teacher at Page Private School in Costa Mesa. “Seeing the parents

and the kids together -- it just brings tears to your eyes.”

Castro tries to make the organization’s vision of “a society that

values each individual and provides the opportunity for all people to

lead full and productive lives: looking beyond disabilities, focusing

on capabilities, expanding possibilities” a reality every day.

“I work to try and bring out the best in every kid,” said Castro,

who chose Kendall as the child she would push through the race. “I

try to find whatever it is that each child has and focus on it.”

Helping school-age children develop social skills and modify

certain behavioral problems, Castro and her staff have quite a

challenge to face day after day.

“It is like a second family,” said 20-year-old Margo Klumb, who

works at the center. “Everybody is always working together.”

And the challenge of helping children come out of their shells to

enjoy life has given Castro the biggest rewards. For her, crossing

the finish line by herself wouldn’t be enough. For her, seeing the

light in the eyes of the children she helps is.

The first time she helped one of her children finish a marathon,

she found her purpose, she said.

“It was the most incredible high to see those eyes light up like

that,” she said. “That’s what has carried me through.”

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.