One of this year's Hoops for a Cause recipients is Callie Finnicum. Callie's journey is described below. She has had a long fight and is still fighting today, despite the loss of her leg. Callie's connections to the Frontier Conference are strong, as her mother Katie played basketball for the University of Great Falls.

At the end of November 2025, 9‑year‑old Callie began a fight no child should ever have to face. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer.

▪️Treatment & Travel

In the beginning, the Finnicum's were traveling back and forth between Great Falls and Salt Lake City for her chemotherapy and specialist appointments. The constant trips were exhausting for Callie and incredibly hard on her body, especially during weeks when she was sick, dealing with mouth sores, nausea, or recovering from procedures. It quickly became clear that the travel was too much for her fragile immune system and overall well‑being.To keep her safe and close to the care she needs, they made the decision to temporarily relocate and rent in Salt Lake City for the duration of her treatment. Being just minutes from the hospital has made a world of difference—especially during emergency visits, long chemo weeks, and the many appointments that fill her schedule.

▪️Where She’s At Now

Callie has already endured months of chemotherapy, countless hospital stays, and a major rotationplasty surgery in February. She continues to amaze everyone with her bravery, empathy, and resilience—whether she’s pushing through side effects, doing art therapy, or even speaking with other young osteosarcoma patients to help them feel less alone.Her treatment plan is expected to continue through the summer, and the family hopes to finish in Salt Lake sometime in August. However, her end date is still TBD because she will need lung surgery to remove several small nodules that developed during treatment. This is a common part of osteosarcoma care, but it adds another layer of uncertainty and recovery time.

▪️Why We’re Fundraising

While insurance covers part of her medical care, there are many expenses that fall on the family as they balance caregiving, travel, temporary housing, and daily living costs.

Donations help with:

▪️Medical expenses not fully covered

▪️Temporary housing near the hospital

▪️Food, gas, and daily needs during long treatment weeks

Your support—whether through donations, sharing her story, or simply keeping her in your thoughts—means more than we can ever express. Every bit of help eases the weight and allows them to focus on what matters most: Callie’s healing and her chance to just be a kid again.

Thank you for standing with her through this long, emotional, and courageous journey. She continues to fight with so much heart, and we are endlessly proud of her.