The Sendai 89ers are lending a helping hand to a 17-year-old South Dakota student's fight against cancer.
Halfway around the world, Conrad Adam, a high school basketball player, has his own team of supporters, the 89ers. In fact, they are part of a larger throng affectionately known as Conrad's Clan, including Sendai big man Sam Willard, who attended T.F. Riggs High in Pierre, South Dakota, where Adam is a student.
Adam's left leg was amputated above the knee in October at Mayo St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, and he now has a prosthetic. It's a major life-altering experience for anyone, especially for someone filled with youthful vigor. Going through chemotherapy sessions can be a daunting task for anyone, but the encouragement from Conrad's Clan has given him a big boost.