LAS CRUCES – The booster clubs of Las Cruces’ four major high school football teams have begun fundraising efforts for Abraham Romero, the Organ Mountain High School football player who remains in a medically induced coma after collapsing on the field during the Knights’ game against Deming Friday night.
Organ Mountain, Centennial, Mayfield and Las Cruces high schools have pledged to donate all proceeds from their fundraising efforts to Elizabeth Alonzo, Romero’s mother.
Mayfield and Organ Mountain’s booster clubs will donate their shares of the 50/50 raffle in Thursday’s upcoming game between the two schools to the four-person family, and Centennial is collecting fuel cards, gift cards and checks in addition to a $1,000 donation from its last 50/50 raffle. Las Cruces High contacted families of its football players asking for donations, with one anonymous donor pleading to personally match the school’s fundraising efforts.
The city’s four major high school football teams will collectively host a car wash from 9 am to noon Sunday at Three Crosses Regional Hospital, 2560 Samaritan Drive, in Las Cruces. All proceeds will go to the Romero family.
“This is a community, and seeing someone’s child like this is tough,” said Amanda Carreon, Las Cruces High’s booster club president. “As a mom, your heart bleeds for this family.”
Organ Mountain’s booster club has asked donors to Cashapp $elizabtro so that funds may go directly to Romero’s family. 8509 are the last four digits of the phone number. Donors can also call Organ Mountain High School at 575-527-9430 to inquire about making a donation.
“I’m thankful for them to do something like this,” said Alonzo, the main provider in a four-person house. Alonzo will be unable to work until Romero fully recovers. “I knew my son was liked by people, but I didn’t know he was so loved by so many people.”
‘As many prayers as possible’
Romero, a senior running back and middle linebacker, remains in the intensive care unit of El Paso Children’s Hospital. Alonzo said the 17-year-old is in stable condition after being rushed from the football field to Mimbres Memorial Hospital in Deming, where he was then airlifted to El Paso Children’s Hospital. Romero has been unconscious since suddenly collapsing between plays in Friday’s game.
Alonzo said Romero could remain in a coma for up to two weeks and she said doctors are uncertain what caused Romero to lose consciousness.
“My point for making this public and getting this out is for Abraham to have as many prayers as possible because. at this point, that’s really the only thing that can get my son out of this,” Alonzo said.
Sports Accessories plans on providing helmet decals honoring Romero for Organ Mountain players to wear the remainder of the season, and Organ Mountain and Mayfield plan on having a group prayer on the field before Thursday’s 7 pm game at the Field of Dreams.
Organ Mountain head coach Steve Castille said other schools in the district have reached out offering assistance and resources.
“Football is a good community, and the people in Las Cruces are a good community,” Castille said. “Even though we’re rivals, we’ve had other schools reach out, and we’ll utilize those resources as we go.”
Mayfield has raised $2,000 since its booster club meeting Monday night, and Centennial has received donations from 15 families. Las Cruces High’s booster club also plans on donating directly from its booster funds.
‘He’s everything you want to coach’
Castille said Romero was the team’s undisputed leader on and off the field.
“He’s our starting middle linebacker, he’s the guy who gets us lined up defensively. You hope every good team is going to have a heart-and-soul type of dude that is going to pair up to coaches and be an extension of the coaches on the field, and he’s that guy,” Castille said. “In the weight room, he’s the one getting us going. He’s an unbelievable kid. Every time I have a teacher say the name ‘Abraham Romero,’ I’m never worried about the next thing that comes out of their mouth. It’s always, ‘What a respectful kid, what a great kid.’ He’s everything you want to coach. He’s everything you care about.”
Castille said the team is hurting after losing a brother and a leader, but he wrote on Romero’s fundraiser web page that “Abe is our greatest fighter and he will fight.”
He asked for prayers for Romero and his family.
“I don’t know exactly how to help his family, but I know our Knight Family will rally to help in every way possible,” Castille wrote.
Sports reporter Stephen Wagner can be reached at [email protected] or @stephenwag22 on Twitter.
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