Soccer tournament, carnival to support scholarship program

From their eyes to their smiles, siblings Angel and Jackie Velasquez had similar features. They were both born on the 30th, and they died a year apart.

"Because someone we love is in heaven, there's a little bit of heaven in our home," states a sign inside the house of their mother, Marivel Jimenez.

She cannot talk about her children without smiling, even if she is struggling through the tears. She continues to be proud of the difference her children have made even after death.

"They were both so full of life," Jimenez said. "Knowing that your kids did something amazing makes me so proud. The pain will always be there, but it's nice to know that people continue to remember my kids."

The Velasquez Memorial Soccer Tournament & Carnival is planned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 16 at Tropical Breeze Park, 1505 E. Tropical Parkway. The event is set to benefit the second annual Velasquez Memorial Scholarship fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Project 150 Youth Council Scholarship Program, which awards college scholarships to local students in the Velasquez family's name.

Angel was a member of the Project 150 Youth Council and a 2012 graduate of Las Vegas High School, 6500 E. Sahara Ave.

"My son always wanted to do so much," Jimenez said. "His dream was to become the sheriff of Las Vegas."

At age 16 in 2011, Angel joined the Explorer Program. He passed the tests to do police ride-alongs and quickly became the program's captain.

He was passionate about pursuing a law enforcement career and began studying criminal justice at the College of Southern Nevada.

The day before he died, he made his dream a reality by purchasing a motorcycle. He was killed by a drunken driver while riding it on Aug. 1, 2013.

"He was coming to my house when the accident happened," said Angel's friend Jimmy Hernandez. "The last words he told me was, 'I love you, bro.' I always carry that in my heart."

"Before he passed, he told me that when he died, he wanted people to remember him for what he has done," Jimenez said. "He achieved his dream. Even though he didn't become a police officer, he was honored like one."

His older sister, Jackie, was an honor roll student at Valley High School, 2839 Burnham Ave.

In her downtime, Jackie played the violin, ran marathons, read books and spent time outdoors.

Despite how "girly" her mother said she was, Jackie joined the Army at 17.

Her death was just as sudden and as painful as Angel's, Jimenez said. Jackie died on Oct. 3, 2014, after a two-month battle with cancer.

"She was in so much pain," Jimenez said. "She lost her hair during the chemo treatment, and during the last two weeks, she didn't leave the hospital. Even though she was always independent, during that time, she didn't want me to leave her side. She just asked me to hold her hand. It was so painful."

Angel and Jackie were organ donors. After they died, Jimenez said Angel helped 34 people, and Jackie helped two people through donated organs.

In January 2014, the Southern Nevada Hispanic Employment Program Youth Council, founded in 2009 by teen sisters Senia and Sabrina Roybal, transitioned under Project 150's umbrella.

Youth Council members assist in fulfilling Project 150's mission to meet the needs of homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students by providing food, clothing, school supplies and special requests.

"We've been wanting to do a soccer tournament since before Angel passed away. He loved soccer. I wanted to do this in his honor," Senia said. "At the carnival, people can expect a variety of games, vendors, music and good food."

Their goal is to raise $10,000 for the scholarships, which benefit graduating high school seniors and current college students.

Players for the soccer tournament must be 7 or older. The registration fee is $20 per player. Visit bit.ly/1Kn4mYz.

Despite living every parent's worst nightmare, Jimenez continues to stay strong.

"The last time they both felt normal was on July 31. That was the day before Angel died, and that was the day before Jackie found out she had a tumor," Jimenez said. "Someone once told me that maybe two people can love each other so much they follow each other everywhere the other goes."

— To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.