For Immediate Release      
For more information call:  Kevin or Karin McLellan (561) 740-8272

Local Karate Instructor & Son Form Foundation for Son Killed in Tampa Plane Crash

 

Wellington, FL- Sensei Kevin McLellan, a Wellington, Florida resident and Martial Arts Instructor for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and his son Kevin McLellan Jr. have taken a horrific tragedy and are turning it into something positive.  His 15yr old son Tyler played center for the Martin County High School JV football team.  As a freshman and was hopeful he would make the varsity squad as a sophomore. But he was killed in a plane crash in Tampa Thursday July 17th.

Tyler had a chance to go to Orlando for a few days and he refused, as he already made a promise to a family friend to be there for her he said, ”I will be your angel this time”. Instead of traveling to Orlando with friends, Tyler McLellan accompanied a family friend, Patti Snyder, 49, on a flight to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Snyder was to undergo treatment for lung cancer. How many 15 year olds do you know who would do that?  The pair would fly on a plane arranged by Angel Flights, a charitable organization which provides free air travel for those who need specialized medical care but either can't fly commercially or afford to do so. 

 “Tyler loved football and I thought, what a better way to keep his name alive and help the healing between the father and son team than to help the football team he was a part of. McLellan said:” we sat with the athletic director on Monday and he was very receptive, some parents can’t afford the cost of cleats, players also need to pay extra insurance to participate in summer football camp, there are a lot of ways we can help and it will all go to the Martin County High School football program. 

Sensei McLellan is using all means to raise money for Tyler's foundation. A New England Patriots season ticket holder, just this week accepted all offers for eight tickets for the team's private practice on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. The event is only open to season ticket holders. All money from the ticket sales will go to The Tyler McLellan Foundation.  Sensei McLellan’s Weapons Instructor in Boston, Shihan Rocky DiRico of Team Paul Mitchell without hesitation came forward to take the tickets.  Sensei McLellan has martial arts friends all over the country and he is originally from Boston where he competed in KRANE & NASKA tournaments from Boston to Florida and Canada.  The foundation is geared towards rewarding perseverance and not allowing a family’s finances to hold players back. McLellan said the foundation is off "to a good start" and he hopes it will keep going for years to come.

Sensei McLellan will be traveling back to Boston on August 8^th-11^th to attend a Memorial Service in his hometown of Waltham, Mass. for his son with his Boston family, relatives and friends.  Anyone wishing to make a donation can stop into any Riverside Bank in Palm Beach or Martin County and mention the “The Tyler McLellan Foundation” or call: 800-741-3283.

 

Anyone wishing to send a prayer or comment to Tyler or the family can Google Tyler McLellan and it will bring them to the guest book.  At the Palm Beach Post.