Skiatook Uses Football Game To Raise Money For OSU Parade Victims

A 7-year-old Skiatook girl, her and aunt and grandma were among the injured in last month’s homecoming parade crash in Stillwater.

And their community is using the first round of the high school football playoffs to help raise money for the Atwell family. A table is set up outside the Skiatook High School football stadium for Madison Atwell and her family.

Madison was in Stillwater for "America's Greatest Homecoming" and was excited to go to her first Oklahoma State University football game.

She never made it, though, because she was near the end of the homecoming parade route when a car crashed into the crowd.

Madison had to be flown to an Oklahoma City hospital. She broke ribs and had cuts and bruises. Her aunt Kayleigh -- an OSU student -- shattered her knee. Her grandmother, Debbie, was injured as well.  

While Madison was still in hospital, she had some high-profile visitors, like Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the OSU football team.

Special Coverage: OSU Homecoming Tragedy
 

The family is back now at home, trying to get back to normal and, of course, still healing.

 “With everything the families have gone through, just from the trauma, it's even that much more important to take some of the stress off the family,” fundraiser organizer Dr. Thomas DeClue said.

Skiatook is a small town and when one of their own needs help, the community steps up. A lot of times chiropractor DeClue is the one leading the charge.

“I'll just wake up one day, and it's something inside me that says ‘this is what you're supposed to do,’” DeClue said.

DeClue says the Atwell family is uninsured. And what better way than use the Friday night lights of a hometown playoff football game to drum up support.

“That financial help, a lot of people don't realize, it's important,” DeClue said. “It's very stressful on the parents after going through something so traumatic.”

Because the donation table is outside the gate, even if you don't have plans come watch the game, you can still stop by and make a donation.

We're told Madison and family will be here and there's a special surprise for them at halftime of tonight's game.

“I think it's gonna be a good night,” DeClue said.

Other ways you can donate:

• Atwell Family GoFundMe
   
• Mailed to:
  DeClue Chiropractic
  208 Bulldog Blvd, Skiatook, OK 74070