Fundraiser provides more than $2,000 for Lara and Sesma families

Students, graduates, friends and family members gathered on the Maricopa High School football field Tuesday evening for the Alex and Ariel Memorial Flag Football Game fundraiser.

The event was held to honor 2009 MHS graduates Alex Sesma and Ariel Lara, who were tragically killed in an automobile accident on May 8 as they traveled home from NAU for Mother’s Day.

“It went really, really well,” said former MHS drama teacher and governing board member Carrie Vargas.  Vargas credited MHS teacher and 2009 class sponsor Danielle Crosbie and 2009 graduates Desiree Comparetto, Vincent Davis and Samantha Garay for “planning a major event in less than a week.”

“It was all the kids’ idea,” Vargas added.

Following Taylor Wells singing the national anthem, two 40-minute games flag football games were played by girls’ and boys’ teams, a total of 54 students. The event also included performances by the band, dance team and cheer squad.

A throw and punt challenge featured Ariel’s father and younger brother, Jacob Lara, in passing contest, which Jacob won. Alex Sesma’s mother also competed against one of the girls.

T-shirts, concessions, purple ribbons and small bottles of bubbles were available for purchase at the event, which raised $2,208.22 to be split evenly between the families to help with final expenses.

Everyone in attendance was invited onto the track between the girls’ and boys’ flag football games to release bubbles and send their prayers and wishes to both Ariel and Alex.

Check out the slideshow below.

Photos by Shannon Williams