❤️ Cadets for Chatum ❤️

— Details on all the ways to donate are at the end

On a Monday night, 12/22/2025, Fort Frye varsity basketball came to a sudden halt when Chatum, a senior Cadet, suffered a serious back injury during the game. What began as a normal night of high school basketball quickly turned into an unimaginable situation for this family.

Chatum was transported for emergency care and now faces specialized treatment for a broken back and follow up in Cleveland, more than three hours from home. All right in the middle of the Christmas holiday.

**Special shout out to the Belpre Eagles and their team for rallying together our team and lifting Chatum up in prayer!**

During the Christmas week and after, his parents will travel back and forth to get the best care and plan for Chatum available, but not forgetting their daughter, a high school junior, dealing with this pain, in a different way at home. This Christmas, will never be forgotten by this family.

With that, both parents will be forced to take unexpected time off work, now and in the future. His dad, Caleb, serves our community as a highly respected state trooper, and mom, Tracey, is a highly respected HR professional, with jobs that require their presence. Between repeated long distance travel, meals on the road, potential lodging as needed near the hospital, medical related expenses that are only going to add up, and lost income from time taken, the financial burden will add up quickly.

This fundraiser is not about replacing responsibility or even saying that the Courson family needs it. I want to be clear that they did not ask for this because they are a hardworking family that handles their own. This is the Cadet family coming to support them, reminding them that they are never on their own. It is about giving this family the ability to focus on what matters most right now — Chatum’s recovery — and enjoying the holiday season, without the added weight of financial stress.

Fort Frye has always stood for grit, loyalty, and community. Right now, one of our Cadets can use our support.

If you are able to give, please know every donation helps. If you cannot donate, sharing this page and keeping Chatum and his family in your thoughts and prayers means just as much.

•Donate here!

•Sign up for a meal rotation delivery night: https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/B1S3G0C

•Venmo Tracey directly: @TraceyCourson

Cadets for Chatum! One team. One family.