ANSONIA – The Ansonia and Bethel football teams will wear orange wristbands Friday night as part of a fundraiser for the Help Mel Fight foundation.

The fundraiser is for Melissa Johnson, the head women’s basketball coach at Earlham College. Matt Macy, Ansonia’s defensive coordinator and athletics director, worked with Melissa Johnson and her husband, Nick, at Earlham. Dan Kerns, an assistant football coach at Bethel, played football for both Macy and Nick Johnson at Earlham.

Melissa Johnson, a mother of two children, has spent more than 400 days in hospitals since March 2014 as a result of pancreatitis and ensuing complications.

Ansonia will accept donations on Friday night that will go toward Help Mel Fight. The goal is to raise $1,000 toward the foundation’s goal of $50,000.

For more information on Help Mel Fight, visit https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-mel-fight/232697.