A mom’s love for her son: ‘El Tour reminds me of him all the time’

Jacob Guerrero loved to cycle throughout Tucson and beyond. In fact, he was a regular in El Tour de Tucson.

In the heart and mind of Theresa Guerrero, Jacob still does. She still sees him on a bike on occasion – or at least she sees him in others who are enjoying the day on a bike.

She’s Jacob’s mom – and an advocate for her son, who passed away on May 30, 2020.

He was taking a drug that had traces of fentanyl in it, later dying from the powerful drug.

“It was horrible,” she said of that day. “When I knew he was unresponsive, I was crying, screaming and praying and asking God to save him. “It was really hard.”

She has made it her life’s work to tell people about the dreaded drug and the ramifications of drugs.

“I’ve done a lot,” she said. “I’ve been at the legislature to get laws passed, trying to get higher penalties for drug dealers. I’ve been on the (media) in Norway and an Italian paper. I’ve been (ln the local) news here – KOLD and KVOA.”

She’s everywhere, just this week on the local TV talking about it.

And now in Jacob’s honor – all the while telling his story and trying to prevent another one like it – will ride El Tour in November.

She’s no stranger to El Tour, having ridden the one-mile and two- mile events in back-to-back years just to be part of it.

“God willing we’re going to ride 32 miles this year,” she said. “We’re going to do it in his honor.

“… It makes me feel good that I can do this.”

It’s cathartic to being doing this.

“It makes me feel …,” she said, beginning to tear up.

In part, because Jacob is with her, “he’d be happy” that she is doing this, she said.

She won’t be alone. Her fiancé, Johnny, will be part of the ride.

“It’s pretty moving,” Jonny said. “The important thing is that it’s not just emotional support but it’s about advocacy that goes along with it. No one should have to go through this.”

It’s a tribute to her son who “loved riding his bike, he’d ride it everywhere. He had so many bikes.”

Five years after his death, what type of impact has she had?

“I think it’s gone pretty good,” she said. “We’ve done billboards and events. He didn’t die in vain because hopefully his story can save a life. That’s my hope.”

Cycling – and other ways – helps her heal.

“It was a huge part of his life,” she said. “I see cyclists all the time and I think of him because he loved it so much. I pass a cyclist and see him. I even sometimes think they look like him. I’m reminded of him all the time.

“And the El Tour reminds me of him all the time.”