It's a Yellow Day at Taylor Sams Fundraiser

Many wore yellow in recognition of Taylor Sams' favorite color, and those who didn't have a yellow shirt were given a tiny yellow ribbon to wear Sunday during a fundraiser for the family of the 18-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita woman.

The event, to help Taylor's mother, Gloria "Bo" Sams, offset the unexpected costs of her daughter's funeral, was one of several events that have taken place since Taylor was killed in a one-car accident on the southbound 241 tollway in Lake Forest on Sept. 18. 

"I'm overwhelmed, just overwhelmed, to see so many people out here in support of Taylor," Bo Sams said. "How many people she touched—it's amazing. I knew people were drawn to Taylor but how many people—I had no idea.

"I want to say thank you to the communities of Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo."

More than $4,500 was raised from the 163 participants in the Trot for Taylor at Mission Viejo High. The idea for the two-mile run—eight laps around the high school track—was hatched Tuesday by some friends—Taylor Lewis of Mission Viejo, Kim Nielson of Portola Hills and Leslie King of Dove Canyon.

The event was used to warn of the dangers of so-called "tired driving,"  which is often overlooked when parents warn their kids about the dangers of drinking or texting and driving.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 41 percent of drivers admit they have fallen asleep behind the wheel; drivers 16 to 24 years old are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy-driving crash as drivers 40-59.

"If anything, we hope this raises awareness about driving tired and listening to our bodies," said Susie Galvez of Trabuco Canyon.

"I think that's what's touched the community [is that] it could have been any of our kids," said Kathy King, who served as emcee for the event that took place in the stadium where Taylor attended a football game at her alma mater fewer than 48 hours before she died.

Sams was the passenger in a truck driven by her boyfriend, who told authorities he was tired while driving back from Los Angeles; the Toyota pickup he was driving drifted to the right and struck an asphalt berm, and when he overcorrected, the truck went to the center median. When the tires caught the dirt, the vehicle flipped.

The money raised from the various fundraisers—there was a car wash  Saturday—will help Bo Sams pay for the the funeral, which will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mission Hills Church in Mission Viejo.

Donations can be made to Gloria Sams, c/o Chris Pope, 380 Newport Ave., Long Beach CA, 90814.

In addition to the fundraising from the walk—a $10 donation was asked, but many gave more than that—there were sales of wristbands, baked goods, and T-shirts for $20, although the minimum number of shirts weren't sold on Sunday for the silk-screener to fill the order; shirts can be purchased at Too Funky Thredz.

• Watch interviews from the candlelight vigil
• Read the original story about the accident

Another fundraiser takes place through 9 p.m. Monday (today) at in Rancho Santa Margarita; 20 percent of all sales will go to the family of Taylor, who had begun attending this fall.

Another restaurant fundraiser takes place Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., at in Mission Viejo in which 20 percent of purchases will benefit the Sams family.