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West Iredell stands behind fellow student with cancer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An entire high school stood behind one of their own after West Iredell football player Dalton Edwards told his team he is battling liver cancer.

Earlier this week, Dalton said he knows he can beat it.

There was an amazing show of support at Friday night's football game where he made a brief surprise appearance.

There was a crowd wearing blue shirts and players wearing blue socks at the game.

"The word has spread," said Coach Mike Natoli. "There's been prayers and pictures and the family has been overwhelmed with support from different counties and states, especially within our schools."

Dalton's classmates sold more than 1,000 shirts this week in a fundraiser to help pay his medical expenses.

They hope their energy is enough to get him through the fight and they are also learning something in the process.

"You preach character and togetherness all the time and becomes cliché," Natoli said. "But this really hits home and emphasized what we preach to our kids."

Dalton was set to have surgery this week but it was postponed due to the size of the tumor.