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Panthers' Kuechly attends flag football fundraiser for 6-year-old with leukemia

HARRISBURG, N.C. — A flag football fundraising event was held Saturday at Hickory Ridge High School for a 6-year-old batting leukemia.

Lexi Cunningham, a first grader at Patriots STEM Elementary School in Concord, was diagnosed with the disease in November after she complained because her elbow was swollen and told her parents that she couldn't straighten it, our partners at the Independent Tribune reported.

Doctors at Levine Children’s Hospital told Lexi she had leukemia.

Saturday’s fundraiser, called “Tackling Childhood Cancer,” was formed to help the family with medical expenses.

Athletes Who Share Unselfish Moments Club put together the event this weekend to fundraise for the family, the Independent Tribune reported.

The club completes service projects and fundraisers every year.

Local high school teams played flag football in both a boys' division and a girls' division, and paid a $400 donation to play, according to the Independent Tribune.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly attended and took photos with the winning team and highest bidders in an online auction, for which he signed memorabilia.