Friends and neighbors in Hanford are fundraising to help the family of College of the Sequoias cadet Eric Arzate, who died following a medical emergency.
GoFundMe
HANFORD
A Valley community is raising money for the family of College of the Sequoias fire cadet Eric Arzate, who died after experiencing a medical emergency on the college’s Hanford campus earlier this week.
“On Aug. 10, we unexpectedly lost our beloved Eric,” his family wrote on a GoFundMe page that is raising funds to help his family. “He was a son, brother, partner, and friend, and his loss has left an immeasurable emptiness in the lives of so many.”
The 20-year-old Arzate is remembered as “a beautiful person” who always found a way to put others before himself.
Friends and neighbors in Hanford are fundraising to help the family of College of the Sequoias cadet Eric Arzate, who died following a medical emergency. GoFundMe
His family said Arzate dedicated years of his life to learning how to save the lives of others and volunteered for local first-responder programs.
“One of his greatest dreams was to become a firefighter. He worked incredibly hard toward that dream and wanted nothing more than to make the people he loved proud,” his family wrote.
His family said Arzate’s death come three years after the sudden death of his father, Raul Arzate. Both shared “a deep love of music and were both talented musicians.”
As of Friday, almost $10,000 had been raised.
The cause of the medical emergency remains under investigation. Fire academy applicants at College of the Sequoias must pass a physical agility exam before being admitted to the program. The exam evaluates strength, balance, coordination and cardiovascular endurance.
The Fresno Bee
María G. Ortiz-Briones is a reporter and photographer for McClatchy’s Vida en el Valle and the Fresno Bee. She covers issues that impact the Latino community in the Central Valley. She is a regular contributor to La Abeja, The Bee’s free weekly newsletter on Latino issues. | María G. Ortiz-Briones es reportera y fotógrafa de Vida en el Valle de McClatchy y el Fresno Bee. Ella cubre temas que impactan a la comunidad latina en el Valle Central. Es colaboradora habitual de La Abeja, el boletín semanal gratuito de The Bee sobre temas latinos.
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