There were hundreds of people on the field and in the stands at Sequoyah High School on Friday night.
Two of them were childhood cancer survivors.
“Before the game they told us all to meet at the gate before we ran through,” said junior John-Douglas Wiggins.
The team usually storms through a banner the cheerleaders make before taking their spots on the sideline.
“They usually just run right out and don’t even pay attention to the cheerleaders at all,” said junior Lexi Stamey.
However, during Friday night’s game against Sweetwater High School the team’s pregame ritual changed.
“They gave us a yellow rose, and told us whenever we came through the banner she’d be standing down there. So, we gave her the rose just to show how proud we are of her,” Wiggins said.
Lexi is a survivor. She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 3 years old, and beat it a few years later. This year marks her 10th since her last round of chemotherapy.
“A lot of people didn’t even know she had anything like that,” Wiggins said. “Just to see how strong she is and see how well she defeated it is really a big thing.”
The show of support on the field was a big surprise for Lexi.
“When we first came out she wasn’t expecting it so when we first started giving her the roses a giant smile spread across her face, and I’ve never seen her smile that big before. So that was pretty nice,” said senior Elijah Beard.
“I was in shock I didn’t know what was happening,” Lexi said. “Just to see all my friends give me a rose it just about made me cry.”
Lexi doesn’t remember her fight against leukemia, but it’s one her mom will never forget. It inspired her to start Team Lexi.
“My mom has superhero dinners and princess dinners for little kids who have cancer,” Lexi said.
A few years ago, Team Lexi put on a dinner for Braden. He is also a leukemia survivor, and is also one of the football players who laid a rose at Lexi’s feet.
When the team finished giving Lexi her yellow roses, the squad gave Braden a signed football.
“I was surprised. I didn’t expect it at all that night,” Braden said.
Lexi and Braden were shocked by the honor, and they’re thankful they won their fight.
Lexi is very involved in the team named after her, and loves helping those still fighting.
“Keep up the fight. It’s worth it in the end and everything is going to be okay,” Lexi said.