Students raise $9,600 in honor of teen who died from undiagnosed heart condition

Patrick Kelly was a healthy, active teenager with a great sense of humor. He played basketball and golf. He loved to wakeboard and snowboard. His family describes him as having "a rare ability to draw others to him, to make them feel comfortable in his presence."

Patrick would have been a freshman at Capital High School, but an undiagnosed congenital heart condition took his life on July 8, 2006.

Janet Erickson, physical education teacher at Helena Middle School, heard the news and immediately thought to herself -- what can I do?

Erickson spearheads the annual state Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart and dedicated the effort this year to Patrick. The program is a fundraiser to benefit the American Heart Association and a way for young people to become aware of the consequences of not exercising and not eating healthy.

Erickson contacted the Kellys and suggested her plan to hold the event in Patrick's honor. The family agreed.

"In light of tragedy -- if anything good can come of it, we are all for it," Tim Kelly said.

This year students raised around $9,600, according to Erickson.

"When we had our event at HMS many of the students did not know Patrick, but were all so concerned and compassionate about wanting to help," she said.

Bailey Murphy, a sixth-grader, was one of the youngsters touched by the story.

Murphy, with the help of his father and grandfather, designed and crafted plaque dedicated to Pat. He presented it to the family this past Thursday at HMS.

Erickson says that whenever something tragic happens the "Helena people always get on board to help out."

In addition to this year's fundraising effort, a new $500 annual scholarship has been created in Patrick's honor by Payne Financial Group Inc., where Sarah Kelly works. The scholarship will be given to a Montana school participating in Hoops for Heart or Jump Rope for Heart by drawing the name from a hat. The scholarship money will be used for the chosen school to purchase new equipment for heath and/or physical education programs. The award is called the Patrick Kelly Spirit in Action Award.

Heidi Hill's Bruin Vision class at Capital High is developing a video that will be used statewide as an educational tool on heart disease with Patrick as the star, featuring the song he wrote just before he died.

On the day he died, Patrick participated in a pole-vaulting exhibition downtown then left for a day of boating and wakeboarding with friends at the Gates of the Mountains, his parents said.

Tim and Sarah were told Pat felt dizzy and soon became unconscious. The family friends administered CPR until emergency personal responded, who continued CPR, but Pat could not be revived.

Sarah says doctors told her that her son's aorta gave way and it was likely that he died instantly.

There were no signs that Patrick had a heart problem.

"There was no reason for us to suspect," Tim said.

Patrick's sister, Kaelyn, a senior at Capital High, describes him as a person who loved to do anything but school work.

Kaelyn says with a tear in her eye that she sees a lot of Pat's friends at school.

"I have a lot of friends who are freshmen," she said adding that having them is somewhat comforting as she mourns the loss of her younger brother.

"He was in perfect health -- totally -- there was no way you would have ever known," she said.

Helena Middle School has participated in the American Heart Association's fundraising efforts for nearly 30 years and raised more than $67,600 in the past seven years. The funds are used for research, public health education, professional education, community service, fundraising and management.

Erickson would like to extend an invitation to any school or class to get on board and help HMS honor Patrick Kelly's life.

For more information about Hoops for Heart call 324-1041 or by e-mail at jmerickson@helena.k12.mt.us.