Justin Turner again partnered with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to have patients custom design pairs of Adidas cleats that he then wore during the doubleheader between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Because of visitation restrictions still in place, Turner pre-recorded a message that was played for Kaylene, 17, and Arthur, 12. This marked a sixth consecutive season Turner partnered with CHLA to help provide a unique opportunity.
“This year they actually got to design a full pair of cleats. In the past it was four kids who would each do half a cleat, or four kids each would do one cleat,” Turner told DodgerBlue.com.
“This year it was two kids and they each got full cleats. From the looks of the cleats, how well they came out and the amount of detail that went into them, I’d be willing to bet they definitely took more than one little coloring session.”
For the first game of the #Dodgers doubleheader, @redturn2 is in cleats designed by Kaylene, a patient at @ChildrensLA. Part of @JTFoundation10 helping bring attention to Childhood Cancer Awareness month. pic.twitter.com/NoL1YlCrPe
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 20, 2022
For the night game, @redturn2 is wearing cleats designed by Arthur. @JTFoundation10 @ChildrensLA pic.twitter.com/V75G4y85uf
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 21, 2022
Turner had his cleats, jersey and cap authenticated, so they could be sent over to CHLA for display or a fundraising initiative.
In addition to wearing the custom cleats, the Justin Turner Foundation had multiple special guests in attendance. One of which had the opportunity to join the mariachi that performs in the right-center field pavilion, which caught Turner by surprise.
“We had Nano come out, who is one of the kids who had previously colored on my cleat. Nano is a mariachi enthusiast. He showed up with his mariachi hat on, and we intentionally brought him out on a Tuesday because I know we do Taco Tuesday and have the mariachi,” Turner began.
“I thought it would be really cool for him to get a chance to go out and meet the guys. I had no idea he was going to sit down and start belting with them, which was phenomenal. I didn’t know what inning they were doing it. I come out in the dugout and I hear a little kid singing and I look up on the scoreboard, and there he is sitting on the chair, just going at it with the mariachi.
“That fired me up. That was pretty special.”
CHLA celebrates Justin Turner Foundation
Turner and his wife Kourtney have long supported CHLA through various endeavors, and in March 2019, the couple along with the Justin Turner Foundation were added to the prestigious Spotlight Wall.
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