Minneota senior Jayden Gamrak and his grandmother, Mitzi Buckingham, have a very close relationship and have become an inspirational for one another.

Inspirational bond

Gamrak's motivated on gridiron by grandmother's cancer battle

Jayden Gamrak had his best game of the season, both on offense and defense, in the Class A quarterfinals this past Friday.
The senior two-way lineman admitted he has been playing with a little inspiration.
"I've been trying my best for my team and fellow seniors," he said.
But his grandmother, Mitzi Buckingham of Marshall, is foremost on his mind now that she has been in a lengthy battle with cancer. That motivates himself to do well.
"When she can't make it to the games, I have to make the big plays so she can see me on the TV and cheer me on," said Gamrak.
If Buckingham is feeling strong on game days, she and her husband Scott try to make it to the games. If not, they watch them via livestream.
Gamrak has been wearing purple socks during his games in support of pancreatic cancer, too.
"My heart is full. He is quite a kid," Buckingham said about her grandson. "We have always been close and my cancer has affected him a lot. He worries about me."
Buckingham said win or lose, she is very proud of Jayden's accomplishments in football and wrestling.
"I tell him that quite often," she said. "He tells me he is proud of me, too, for fighting so hard. I love going to football games and am also looking forward to wrestling season. I don't have time to be sick."

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