Last summer, Alan Emmanuel Villaseñor, 12, lost his partner, his friend, his role model.

His father, Agustin Villaseñor, died of a brain tumor. He was 42.

Alan, his younger brother, Adel Alberto, their mother, Patricia Moreno Villaseñor and their extended family grieved. They continue to mourn their loss.

In the months after his daddy's death, Alan couldn't find meaning. He couldn't explain why the man who taught him to hit a baseball, throw a curveball and who made pancakes Saturday mornings, had died.

Alan could have turned angry and distant. Instead the La Cima Middle School seventh-grade honors student turned his emotions into a cause.

He created a foundation and, in just several months, raised $800 by selling red and blue rubber bracelets stamped with the words "Knock Out Cancer" and the cancer awareness ribbon logo.

Friday, in an emotional morning at his school's cafeteria, Alan presented the money to the family of Kimberly Nguyen, a sixth-grade La Cima student, whom he met for the first time.

Her father, Long Nguyen, has a brain tumor. Her mother, Eunice Nguyen, and the family are enduring the same emotional and financial hardships that wringed the Villaseñor family for four years.

"I hope it helps you guys a lot," Alan said to the Nguyen family who had joined him on stage during the school's ceremony recognizing honor-roll students.

Tears rolled down the faces of his mother, nana, uncle, and other family and friends who sat in the front rows.

Principal Gail Gault's eyes also welled up when she introduced Alan.

Alan epitomizes La Cima students for his caring empathy and for making others' lives better, said Gault.

"This is good story," she said.

Alan's father was born in Cananea, Sonora, south of Douglas.

After marrying Patricia in 1994, Alan's papi immigrated to Tucson, found a job as a chemist and became a U.S. citizen.

Alan said his father, who had a thick dark mustache, had a good sense of humor and worked hard. They talked sports and played baseball together. And his father was an avid collector of ranchera and mariachi music on vinyl.

The elder Villaseñor loved to grill steaks on Saturday nights at their home. But the only meal Alan's dad could cook in the kitchen were papitas, fried sliced potatoes.

"When mom called to say she would be late, I knew what we were having for dinner," said Alan, whom I visited Thursday evening at his family home near West Prince and North Oracle roads.Life unalterably changed when doctors discovered the brain tumor. Alan's father had surgery and radiation treatments. Hope came when he went into remission for two years.The cancer returned and so did the surgeries and treatments. The end became clear.

On July 8, at Casa de la Luz Hospice, Alan remained alone in the room moments after his father died.

"I told him I wouldn't forget all the stuff he taught me. I promised him I would go to college. I told him I would work hard," Alan said as he repeatedly spun an empty glass jar in his hands.

Alan would also emulate a lesson his father showed him: Help others who can't help themselves.

Even before Alan conceived his plan to help the Nguyen family, his mother had talked to Eunice Nguyen. Patricia Villaseñor, just three months after losing her husband, called to offer a voice of compassion and support. That's all Villaseñor could offer Nguyen.

But Alan thought of something. With encouragement from a La Cima teacher, Sam Peterson, Alan and his family bought 500 wristbands, created a foundation and hit the streets.

They sold the wristbands at UA basketball games, a health fair at El Rio Neighborhood Center on West Speedway and wherever they could. In addition he wrote letters to businesses and individuals and, to his surprise, they responded with small donations.

Early last week Alan's mother called the Nguyen family to offer the donation. Eunice Nguyen cried.

"They were down to their last $40," Alan said in his living room.Nguyen, after Friday's check presentation, said she was speechless. She said it's amazing what Alan did."He could have picked another family," she said.

Every Sunday after Mass, Alan and his family visit his dad's grave at Holy Hope Cemetery. Alan talks to his socio, Spanish for partner.

"I can say he'd be extremely proud of me."

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