Shining for Hope

Lighting Campus for Hope Returns Dec. 4 to Support Cancer Screenings

Title sponsor Nusenda Credit Union and supporting sponsor Hunt Companies Inc. are setting the stage for the free, family-friendly holiday celebration at Texas Tech Health El Paso

Lighting Campus for Hope returns to the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus on Dec. 4 with support from local institutions that help fund cancer screenings.

Launched in 2023, the free holiday event for El Paso families features fun for all, including music, a fireworks show, a mascot dance-off, and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus and other winter holiday characters. The event raises money and awareness for Texas Tech Health El Paso’s cancer prevention programs, which help Borderplex residents access breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings.

After supporting Lighting Campus for Hope over the past two years, Nusenda Credit Union is stepping into the title sponsor role for the first time, with a $40,000 commitment to support the university’s cancer prevention programs. Nusenda’s sponsorship carries a personal story: President and CEO Michelle Dearholt is a cervical cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Stage 3 disease in 2021 following a routine appointment. Her experience led her through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Cancer struck her family again in 2023, when her father died of a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, for which treatment only exists in trials that were unsuccessful for him. Those losses and triumphs have shaped how she leads.

“Lighting Campus for Hope is a beautiful reminder that no one faces cancer alone,” said Dearholt. “By bringing our community together, this event raises awareness, encourages early detection, and supports greater access to care. I am honored that Nusenda is serving as title sponsor this year, helping shine a light on hope for so many individuals and families.”

Nusenda, New Mexico's largest credit union, has expanded rapidly into El Paso, opening multiple branches while supporting initiatives such as free dental care for local schoolchildren. Its support of Lighting Campus for Hope reflects Nusenda’s investment in the Borderplex's cancer-fighting mission, and its commitment to becoming a lasting community partner.

Hunt Companies Inc. will return as a supporting sponsor, contributing $25,000 to the campaign. Their participation continues a partnership that has helped Lighting Campus for Hope raise thousands of dollars for screenings since its inception.

Every dollar raised will flow into Texas Tech Health El Paso's cancer screening programs, including the Breast Cancer Education, Screening, and Navigation program, the Medical Student Run Clinic's breast cancer screening effort, the Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening program, and the De Casa En Casa cervical cancer screening program. Screenings remain one of medicine's most powerful tools, detecting cancer before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective.

Not every cancer can be caught through routine screening, however. Awareness of warning signs, such as unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, and unusual bleeding or lumps, remains as vital as the tests themselves. Lighting Campus for Hope aims to spotlight both messages: screen when you can, and stay alert when you can't.

As in years past, the university will invite cancer warriors and their families to take the stage, sharing stories of resilience that have become the emotional heart of the evening. Their voices, organizers say, remind the Borderplex that behind every dollar raised is a neighbor, a parent or a friend still fighting.

Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring Lighting Campus for Hope may contact Christopher Rosenbluth at chrosenb@ttep.edu. Cancer warriors interested in sharing their story at the event may contact Leonard Martinez at leonard.martinez@ttep.edu.

About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education. Focusing on excellence in healthcare education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.