Community Shows Support For Hill Creek Student

This past Saturday, in Santee hosted the "."  The event was held to help raise money for the medical expenses of a 4th grade student at the school who has undergone two kidney transplants.

That student, Hailey, is a remarkable little girl and has been through more than any child should ever have to face.  Looking at her on this cloudy and cool morning you would have never known what she has been through in her young life.

Her body rejected the first kidney transplant almost immediately in 2008.  Her second transplant in 2010, though successful, has not come without further complications.  Because of the daily medication she has had to take, she was forced to have reconstructive surgery on her hip.  Though she is currently back at school, she is fiercely battling Kidney Reflex Disease.

The event began at 8:00 a.m. and participants were told that it would take nine laps around the track to complete the 5K total. Throughout the 3-hour event members of the community arrived to support Hailey.  Firefighters from the  showed up to offer a donation as well get in a few laps around the track.  Several Deputies from the Sheriffs Department showed up to show their support as did the Vice-Mayor of Santee .

Hill Creek Principal Jerelyn Lindsay was impressed at the turnout.  "I think it has turned out to be awesome.  We never expected so many people" said Lindsay.  Campus Aide and organizer of the event, Alicia Coyle-Randazzo, said that the event was "something I felt we needed to do."  The community support did not go unnoticed by Hailey's family.  Hailey's Aunt was overwhelmed with gratitude, "It's amazing... amazing.  I can hardly talk about it".

Principal Lindsay added "This again shows that the Santee community is behind everything that goes on here".

At the conclusion of the event it was reported that $3,817.41 was raised.  The money was to be delivered to Hailey and her family on Sunday.

See more photos of the walk/run taken by Jay Renard at his Flickr page