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Community Rallies Around Aliquippa H.S. Football Player After Cancer Diagnosis

ALIQUIPPA (KDKA) -- A local high school rallied Friday night to support a football player diagnosed with cancer.

The Aliquippa High School team took the field without one of their star players: No. 24 Dimantae Bronaugh.

But Bronough left Children's Hospital to attend the game. Wearing a wearing a hospital mask, he stood along the sidelines.

The crowd cheered as he was announced.

"I'm just happy to be here," said Bronaugh. "I'm kind of mad I can't play, but I still love being here."

It was at practice this summer when he began to feel sick.

"He was cramping up, not feeling well, and he thought he was just dehydrated," said Alvin Gipson, Aliquippa High School principal.

That's when doctors told him he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

"I'm doing good. Just started my chemo and it's doing good, too," Said Bronaugh.

Fellow students and parents raised money at the game for No. 24.

After the game, Bronaugh had to go back to Children's for more treatment, but he could be released later this weekend.

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