LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A team of young Las Vegas soccer players are spending their holiday rallying support for their critically injured teammate.
A photo of 15-year-old player, Alonso, hangs on the Nevada Rush Soccer Club’s fireworks stand off Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Pkwy. It serves as a visual reminder of why the team is there.
“This is going to be our 4th of July, and believe me, we’re more than happy to do it,” said head coach Charlie Quintal.
Instead of being with his teammates, Alonso is hospitalized in critical condition.
He was injured in a sprinter van crash just over two weeks ago, when the team was on their way to Boise, Idaho, to compete in their regional championship game.
The van’s rear driver side tire blew out, according to Elmore County Sheriff’s Office officials who responded to the crash.
In a social media post, Nevada Rush shared that the other players and coaches on board “suffered only minor injuries and are expected to make a full recovery.”
“I would gladly take that bed and pull myself so Alonso can be here playing for his team, that’s where I’m at,” Quintal said.
Out of respect for Alonso and his family, Quintal is not sharing details about his condition, but said he is continuing to recover.
“The doctors were incredibly amazing, and it’s for that reason we’re here and able to talk about recovery,” Quintal said.
Although they have one less teammate at the stand, Alonso’s teammates aren’t letting their broken hearts stand in their way of supporting him.
“The kids have been out here in the hot sun, with the weather, raining,” Quintal said. “Whatever it takes.”
Quintal said every penny raised in firework sales at the stand, off Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Pkwy, will go directly toward supporting Alonso’s recovery.
The team had another stand dedicated to fundraising for Alonso, but it was affected by this week’s extreme weather and shut down.
“When rough life happens, it’s easy to quit. It’s easy to fold our chairs and move on, but we’re not, we’re not doing that. We’re here, we’re here to stay,” he said.
The team also has another stand still open in the southwest valley near IKEA. Quintal said a portion of these sales will go toward Alosno as well.
Both stands will be open on Friday until 11 p.m., or until they run out of supplies.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to support Alonso and his family.
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