Bocce players and friends came in force Saturday to the Napa Valley Senior Center for a day of good-natured competition, all for a good cause.

A total of 32 teams paid $200 each to raise money for Grant Beltrami, the Napa teen who will leave for Wisconsin Sept. 2 to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Grant suffers from aplastic anemia, a blood disorder that makes him dangerously susceptible to infections.

Grant, 16, will delay his senior year at Napa High School while he is treated at Milwaukee’s Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, home to one of the biggest bone marrow transplant programs in the United States. A donor was found after a search of 12 million files.

The 300-plus friends and relatives gathered around the four green-turf bocce courts Saturday came either to play, watch or take part in the silent auction and raffle, with all the funds going to help the Beltrami family offset the costs associated with Grant’s hospitalization.

Grant’s parents, Joe and Wendy Beltrami, expect to split their time for the next six months to a year between Napa and Wisconsin.

Joe Beltrami, a self-employed contractor, said he will travel to Wisconsin a few days after his son and his wife arrive at the hospital.

Grant Beltrami’s plight came to light about nine years ago, when more than 1,000 Napa County residents volunteered to be tested as potential bone marrow donors. About $83,000 was raised from the community for the bone marrow testing, but no match was found.

On Saturday, family and friends came ready to help.

“We love the Beltramis,” said Anita Ghiringhelli of Rutherford, as her husband, Chops, played with his team, the Grapestompers. “We want to do all we can,” she added.

Non-bocce players included Anne Percelay and her daughter, Debbie, former neighbors of the Beltramis.

“It’s wonderful to see the community come out,” said Anne Percelay, adding she would do anything for the family.

“It’s giving this kid a real chance at life,” she said, referring to the bone marrow transplant.

Saturday’s bocce tournament and fundraiser was organized with about 30 volunteers in three weeks, said friend Linda Button Jones, a family friend. As of Saturday afternoon, she could not say how much money was raised.

Grant did play Saturday. His team, the Candle Warriors, lost in the first round against, the Grapestompers.

“I thought that was cool,” said Grant of the idea of having a bocce tournament. “I like bocce,” he said.