Don't let his rough biker exterior fool you, Louis Longoria had a soft side and always put family first.
"Everybody loved him, he was always the jokester," said relative Jessette Aleman.
There was no kidding around once Louis received the news that he was in for the fight of his life.
Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia , Louis's days on his motorcycle became less frequent and he instead started making trips to the hospital.
"He was able to receive many pints of blood while hospitalized and while battling cancer," Aleman said. "He was in and out of the hospital, and then we lost him. He lost his battle with cancer."
Since losing their loved one, Louis Longoria's family have come up with a way to remember him while spreading awareness about the need for blood donations.
"We want to give back to the community and we want to give back everything he was able to receive," Aleman said.
The family is setting up shop in an empty field in La Feria where Louis grew up.
"The United Blood Services will bring in a blood mobile and set up here off Canal Street and Business 83," Aleman said.
The family is optimistic that they'll do just as good as last year or better in their second annual Live Long Blood Drive.
About 29 units of blood were collected last time around which could save more than a hundred lives.
Louis would be happy to know his family is fulfilling his labor of love.
"This is what keeps us going and this is what keeps his memory alive because we love to do this," Aleman said.
The Live Long Blood Drive will take place Saturday, February 18th off Canal St. in La Feria from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Longoria family will also have a bar-b-que fundraiser as well as entertainment on site.
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