ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- No matter how or when you lost your loved one, there is a space for you to honor them this weekend.
"Keep NM Alive" is hosting a vigil for families to find strength in numbers after losing loved ones.
Cyndy McCrossen works in the "Land of Make Believe," as the film liaison for the City of Albuquerque. The pain she carries, even two years later, is very real.
"It's a special kind of grief - a mother to lose a child," McCrossen said.
McCrossen's daughter Penelope died from fentanyl poisoning. Penelope was 33 years old.
"She's just gorgeous, you know? [The] light of my life and I miss her every day, and it's a complicated story," McCrossen said.
Penelope was a young chef dealing with a foot injury. She tried to treat her pain through surgery - and then prescription drugs.
"She tried to just find comfort and it was just an accident, an awful, awful accident," McCrossen explained.
McCrossen has since become a member of Keep NM Alive. The campaign started in 2022 for fentanyl awareness.
"It's important to realize you're not alone, you know? My story is not unique. That's the tragic part of it is, it's not unique but you feel it's a very lonely place to be and this helps you not feel so alone," McCrossen said.
McCrossen said that's also the goal of the candlelight vigil taking place Saturday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m., in Albuquerque Civic Plaza. It's open to any family that's lost a loved one too soon.
"Share memories together, share tears together but ultimately reflect and remember together," said Erica Abeyta, Bernalillo County's community program manager and DWI coordinator.
Abeyta is helping to add "alcohol harms prevention" under the "Keep NM Alive" umbrella. It's a personal thing for her.
"My younger sister lost her life due to alcohol use and my older sister was lost due to violence, so this is something near and dear to my heart," Abeyta said.
Bernalillo County will air commercials in September regarding alcohol harms prevention. They will also add the "Keep NM Alive" logo in DWI and alcohol prevention work.
"We know alcohol is very prevalent in our community and often the perception of risk is very low because it's so readily available," Abeyta said.
It's all in an effort to channel pain into something positive.
"You need a community to hold you up when you're faced with such a tragedy," McCrossen said.
"Keep NM Alive" is always looking for volunteers to help at community events and to help spread messaging about prevention and harm reduction. You can learn more on their website.