Free to read: Blood drive Thursday will honor the life of Alfredo Moreno

Moreno gets a kiss from wife, Gina,

Courtesy photo

Jose “Alfredo” Moreno loved life, and he lived life to the fullest. Co-owner of Cinco De Mayo Restaurant in Lyons, Moreno ran the popular Mexican restaurant for 18 years.

Moreno was born on February 7, 1976 in Manuel Doblado Gunnajuato, Mexico, he was the son of J. Guadalupe Dominguez (Deceased) and Rogelia Moreno Pulido and was married for 25 years to wife, Gina.

The couple had three children, daughter Anna and sons, Christian and Alfredo and one grandson, Jamell.

Moreno was diagnosed in January 2022 with ALL, or Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and, in August, he underwent a stem cell transplant, receiving countless pints of donated blood during his treatment.

He and his wife celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in his room at IU Health’s Simon Cancer Center as Moreno recovered from the transplant.

Tragically, Moreno died on October 4, 2022 and the world dimmed forever.

In his honor and his memory, Versiti Blood Center, in partnership with Greene County Health, Inc. and Cinco De Mayo Mexican Restaurant, is hosting the Alfredo Moreno Memorial Blood Drive on Thursday, May 23 from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Versiti Bloodmobile in the parking lot at Cinco De Mayo, located at 2257 IN 67 in Lyons.

Those who donate will receive one free appetizer from Cinco De Mayo as well as a $15 Electronic Gift Card for all Type A, B and O donors with appointment and valid email. Choose from over 70 retailers like Amazon, Starbucks and more.

Moreno hard at work at Cinco De Mayo in Lyons.

You will receive an email from Versiti Blood Center of Indiana approximately seven to 10 business days after donation telling you how to redeem. Please check your spam folders as well.

Statistics tell us some sobering facts, such as:

• One in seven people entering a hospital will need blood

• 62 of every 100 people meet the criteria to donate blood

• Only four of them do

• More than 4.5 million patients need blood transfusions each year in the U.S. and Canada.

• 43,000 pints: amount of donated blood used each day in the U.S. and Canada.

• Someone needs blood every two seconds.

• One pint of blood can save up to three lives.

BLOOD CANNOT BE MANUFACTURED; IT IS UP TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENSURE A SAFE AND ADEQUATE SUPPLY IS AVAILABLE.