Two Reyes Elementary School Red Hawks are celebrating their triumph over cancer by trying to give the gift of life to others battling the disease right here in El Paso. The pair are hosting a blood drive in partnership with Vitalant Blood Donation Services.
Fourth-grader Marco Holguin and fourth-grade teacher Monica Cereceres recently received the wonderful news that their respective cancer diagnoses were now in remission. To celebrate, the two reached out to Vitalant to organize a blood drive at the school.
“Ms. Cereceres and Marco have inspired us all to persevere and never give up,” said Reyes Principal Dr. Jessica Melendez-Carrillo. “Now, in the true Spirit of Canutillo, they want to give back to the community and make a difference.”
Marco was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2019. As of 2021 he has been in remission, his mother said. Cereceres is a breast cancer survivor who has been in remission since 2022.
The blood drive is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, in the parking lot of Reyes Elementary, 7440 Northern Pass Dr. in Northwest El Paso. To sign up to donate, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/msrf7y9d.
The blood drive is hosted in conjunction with the Reyes Student Council.