COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. — As a community mourns the tragic loss of a young student, one local soccer team is stepping up to show their support.
Lowcounty United, a semi-pro soccer team in South Carolina, announced Thursday that their next home game will be dedicated to 10-year-old Raniya Wright.
Wright succumbed to her injuries this week after a fight erupted in her classroom at Forest Hills Elementary School in Colleton County. One unnamed student has since been suspended.
Since her death, the community has gathered, showing their love for her and her family. A makeshift memorial continues to grow outside her school, while a local school's baseball team lead a moment of prayer in her honor.
And now the Lowcounty United want to do their part. On April 6, players will play in Raniya's honor, and a portion of each ticket will be donated to her family.
This tragedy has "hit very close to home" for the team who has been playing home games at the Colleton County school since 2018, and building a connection to the community as a result.
"This game serve as an opportunity for the entire community to come together in a unified effort to take a stand against bullying and acts of violence that can lead to senseless tragedies like this," the team said in a statement.
The team also put out a call to the community and its officials, challenging them to start a conversation about bullying and take action to "ensure that we take every step possible to prevent the loss of another child."
