Jamestown High School Soccer Team Raises Funds for Alumna Battling Cancer
The Jamestown High School soccer team used its match against Bismarck Century to raise awareness and funds for Bernadette Belzer, a 2023 graduate diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Coach Brandi Harty and the team addressed the crowd at Rotary Field before the game. The effort was part of a broader fight against cancer.
High school sports often serve as more than competition, and this fundraiser reflects that broader role. The Jamestown team’s decision to dedicate a regular-season match to a former player’s cancer battle highlights how athletic communities can rally around their own. By addressing the crowd before kickoff, the team turned a routine game into a moment of collective support. Such efforts, while small in scale, reinforce the bonds between schools, families, and local supporters, showing that the impact of a diagnosis extends far beyond the individual.
This story could resonate locally by strengthening community solidarity and encouraging further donations or awareness for cancer support. It may also inspire other school teams to organize similar events, fostering a culture of empathy among young athletes. For the Belzer family, the gesture could provide emotional comfort and practical financial aid. More broadly, it underscores how grassroots initiatives can complement medical treatment, though the long-term effect depends on sustained community engagement beyond a single match.