As Liberty and Freedom prepare for their rivalry battle this Saturday afternoon at Frank Banko Field, another rivalry contest took place Tuesday night on the same field when faculties from both schools teamed up for a charity flag football game.

A contest between Liberty and Freedom was played with the goal of raising money for the Race for Adam Foundation, as well as St. Luke’s Hospice.

Adam Recke, a junior at Freedom High School, has been battling a rare and deadly disease called Niemann Pick Type C.

The Bethlehem Area School District is rallying around the Freedom student to support his battle and to create awareness for this cause. Additionally, they’re raising funds for St. Luke’s Hospice, which provides patients and their families with compassionate end-of-life care. The focus is on care, not cure, and on the quality and value of life, not the length.

Not only were both faculties and fans on hand for the event, the midget football teams from the Bethlehem Saints, Bethlehem Raiders, Bethlehem Township Bulldogs, and the Bethlehem Steelers, competed in their own games before Tuesday night’s marquee matchup.

Freedom basketball coach and health and physical education chair, Joe Stellato, was thrilled for the night of festivities geared towards a worthy cause.

“This event is so important to us because we are uniting for two causes in one game,” Stellato said. “Freedom is playing for Adam Recke, a junior at our school, who has Niemann-Pick Type C. We are raising money for his foundation, the Race for Adam, which helps to promote awareness of this disease and ultimately, to help find a cure.

“Liberty is playing for another important cause right here in our community - St. Luke’s Hospice which provides families with compassionate end-of-life care.”

While the results of last night’s contest were past Press deadlines, it’s fair to say that both teams were looking to win to go along with their charitable night.

“While we are uniting for these two great causes, our faculties are highly competitive,” Stellato said. “Playing under the lights at Frank Banko field in a co-ed, four-quarter, flag football game is important to us. Both teams have been practicing for a few weeks and while the focus is on raising money and awareness, pride and bragging rights are on the line.”