FREDONIA - Fredonia and Dunkirk Midget League Football will put aside their traditional football rivalries, as they work together to tackle a common enemy: cancer.
Upon recently learning that the mother of two Dunkirk Midget League Football players was battling cancer, Fredonia team coordinators decided to dedicate special fundraising events to the family, during the Dunkirk vs. Fredonia Midget League Football games on Saturday at the Fredonia Orange Bowl. The Dunkirk mom is an Iraqi War veteran, and an employee of BOCES in Fredonia. Proceeds from special fundraising at the games will directly benefit this family and their medical expenses.
Fredonia Midget League traditionally sponsors special events in the month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, the teams will kick off their observance with this local fundraising focus, putting aside the traditional Dunkirk-Fredonia rivalry to help a family in need. Team members and coaches will also be wearing pink gear to show support for cancer awareness.
The Dunkirk-Fredonia Midget League Football games will begin with a JV game at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A varsity game will follow at 6 p.m., and a modified game at 8 p.m. There is no admission fee and all games are open to the public. There will be special opportunities at all games to donate funds to the Dunkirk family.
Fredonia Midget League Football serves almost 150 Fredonia children from age 8 through eighth grade who are football players or cheerleaders. Both Fredonia and Dunkirk Midget League Football teams are a part of the Jamestown Area Midget Football League, with teams across Chautauqua County. All coaches and team coordinators are volunteers, with team parents providing volunteer support functions, such as working line chains at games, operating the snack shack, announcing games, and running the scoreboard.