Taylor Kellstrom was just ten years old when Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) helped save his life. He was riding a motocross vehicle at L.A. County Raceway in Palmdale when he went off a jump the wrong way and mistimed it. The next thing he knew, he was in a helicopter on the way to the hospital.
“I was unconscious for six minutes,” said Kellstrom. “I woke up…in a helicopter.”
That helicopter took him straight to CHLA where they monitored him for two days to make sure his brain didn’t swell and other such precautions.
“They’re a big reason why I’m here,” said Kellstrom. “(They) put me back together.”
In return, for five years running Kellstrom has organized Bowling for Kids to raise money for the hospital. This year he hoped to raise between $5000 and $7000 at the event that took place at Valencia Lanes on Sunday.
Among the 200 people present at the bowling alley Sunday was a beneficiary of these
funds named Aaliyah Delgado. She is almost four years old and was diagnosed with leukemia in July and receives treatment at CHLA.
Her family attended Bowling for Kids last year but with Aaliyah’s newly-discovered illness, the event takes on a whole other meaning for them —the significance of which could not be understated.
“It helps not only my daughter but everyone else who is going through the same thing,” said Jaime Delgado, Aaliyah’s father.
It was not hard to spot Aaliyah’s family there, walking around with wristbands with the words Aaliyah’s Army printed on them.
The event also gave the community an opportunity to have some fun for a good
cause. Sydney Goldrick said she is not a very good bowler but that didn’t stop her from coming out for four years running.
“I like the idea of giving back to the hospitals, all the kids that need it,” she said.
She is certain that this will not be her last year at the event either.
