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10-year-old leukemia patient honored at Carolina Core FC match

Martez Bland has been receiving chemotherapy at Brenner Children's Hospital.
Credit: Atrium Health
Martez Bland served as Carolina Core FC's honorary captain Saturday.

HIGH POINT, N.C. — Before its match Saturday night, the Carolina Core FC soccer team honored a local boy who has been undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Martez Bland, 10, was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia last year and has received chemotherapy treatment at Atrium Health Levine Children's Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem. He is now in the maintenance phase of his treatment.

Saturday night marked Carolina Core FC's Kick Childhood Cancer match. Carolina Core played Crown Legacy FC — an affiliate of Charlotte FC.

As part of the festivities, Bland participated in the First Kick ceremony and delivered the game ball as the team's honorary captain. He stood alongside the players during the national anthem.

Carolina Core FC is in its inaugural season in the MLS Next Pro league. The team's Chief Sporting Officer is Eddie Pope, a former UNC player who competed with the United States men's national team during his career.

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