The Lancaster Mennonite (LM) boys' varsity soccer team recently joined with area L-L League soccer teams wearing shirts in support of the Red Card Cancer initiative. L-L League schools and families donated to support the cause, and local teams wore the shirts during warm-ups all week to do the same. Red Card Cancer is a nonprofit in partnership with the American Cancer Society, committed to raising money and awareness for cancer research.

LM joined the initiative in memory of the late Nathan Longenecker, a former LM student and boys' soccer player who died a year ago following an eight-month battle with brain cancer. Lynn Longenecker, Nathan's father, noted that Nathan received his cancer diagnosis in the spring of his freshman year of college. "It was the most powerless feeling to see the disease take over and destroy his healthy 19-year-old body and know that no one knew how to stop it," said Lynn. "Thanks to the school (LM), team, and the Red Card Cancer campaign for helping support research to better understand this terrible disease. It won't bring Nathan back, but will hopefully help make better outcomes possible for others in the future." Nathan's brother, Jesse, a junior, is a current member of the LM team.

The LM team also participated in honor of LM teacher and boys' soccer goalie coach Jim Amstutz's brother, Pete, who is currently fighting Stage 4 glioblastoma brain cancer. Pete and his wife live in Goshen, Ind. "Being so far apart, I sometimes feel helpless in knowing how to be supportive. This was something my family and I could do to stand with Pete and the Longenecker family," said Jim. He also noted that when he was a men's soccer coach at Bluffton University, Pete was the team manager.

The soccer team, together with LM Soccer Booster Club and the LM Advancement office, raised $800 in support of Red Card Cancer.

To learn more about Red Card Cancer, visit https://redcardcancer.org/.