A young, brave woman, who graduated from Leesburg’s Heritage High School, has sadly succumbed to cancer after displaying remarkable resilience throughout her fight against the disease.
On February 11, Rocky Elardo passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. She received her diagnosis in 2019 and embarked on a courageous fight against this devastating disease. Remarkably, Rocky even summoned the strength to return to the basketball court during her battle.
The sad news comes nearly a year to the date of her game-winning basketball shot during her Heritage High School varisty basketball game. Rocky made a three-point shot at the buzzer to defeat a neighboring school in Ashburn, Virginia.
A live vigil was held Feb. 7 outside Rocky’s Leesburg, Va. home. Rocky watched from her window at the community who came out and sang.Photo byLia Hobel
A live vigil was held a few days before her passing outside her home. Varisty basketball teammates, parents, neighbors, friends and family lit up the yard and played Rocky’s favorite music.