Football Team, Community Backs Jordan Brothers And Ill Mother

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Two brothers in Jordan are learning that the word "team" extends well beyond their fellow football players.

Kenny and Ben Alexander's mom, Sherry, had a stroke this past weekend and remains hospitalized.

She is a single parent, raising both boys on her own.

"She's basically devoted her life to us. And she's come to all our games," said Ben Alexander. "She's worked hard at the house to keep us in the house."

The Alexander boys know they'll never have a bigger fan than their mom. Ben is a sophomore right tackle, and Kenny is a senior and the starting center on varsity.

While they make their presence felt on the field, Sherry has made her presence felt in the stands.

"She's got this group at the top of the stadium that screams all the time, all game," Ben said. "Might not know what they're yelling about, but they yell."

Kenny says she even tried to raise that volume.

"She actually bought some megaphones a couple years ago. I went to state and she bought megaphones, and they told her she couldn't use them," Kenny Alexander said.

But Friday night, Sherry's usual spot will be empty. The single mom needs a kidney transplant, and last weekend she had a stroke which caused a loss of sensation in her right arm and leg.

She'll be in the hospital for six weeks, leaving Kenny and Ben on their own.

"The team itself is a pretty good family," said linebacker coach Scott Hennen. "They know wins and losses are great but there's more to life than just that. That comes down to, you know, if one of yours goes down, you're helping that guy back up."

And that's in more ways than one. Friday night, teammates and parents will hold a fundraiser for the family before kick-off.

They're hoping a few hundred people show up so they can raise a few thousand dollars in food and gas money for Kenny and Ben.

Gas money in particular is what they really need to go see their mom in the hospital.

"We've never really taken a lot of help from people. We've tried to do stuff ourselves, so it's definitely something new, but we are warming up to them," Ben said. "And we appreciate every bit we've gotten so far."

And while mom won't be in the stands, her presence will still be felt on the field.

"She loves coming to the games, especially for my senior year," Kenny said. "So not having her there is kind of, it's kind of is distracting. But she's definitely up here (points to his head and his heart)."

Friday's fundraiser and silent auction will run from 4:30 p.m. to kick-off outside of the Jordan football stadium, which will be at about 7 p.m. It's a tailgate and cookout which costs $7 for adults and $4 for kids, ages 3 to 10.

If you can't make it but want to help Kenny and Ben, donations can be sent to Hometown Bank in Jordan.

Money will also go towards medical bills.