Support for Perry High School's sophomore defensive lineman Everett Watson has grown after his prosthetic foot broke during a game. A GoFundMe campaign started by team parent Marin Golden has raised nearly $16,000 toward the $24,000 needed for a specialized athletic prosthetic. With his family's insurance coverage starting in December, as mentioned by AZ Central.
Everett Watson's journey has been marked by resilience after he was shot at age 12, leading to the amputation of his foot. He described the experience, saying, "It was a cycle of me running to crawling, to trying to drag myself out of the fire. They shot I think 28 times. Luckily I think two hit me." Since then, he has adapted to life with a prosthetic and continues to show determination on the football field as a sophomore defensive lineman, as stated by 12 News.
Watson's father expressed it poignantly: "As tragic as it was, the community has brought light to the whole thing. Going through what he's going through, and to see that support, it takes it to another level," according to an interview with AZ Central. This shows the strong bond between the athlete and the community.
The effort to keep Everett Watson in the game shows strong community support. Head coach Mike Beaudoin recalled a moment when Watson, sidelined by his injury, called him over and handed him his broken prosthetic, saying, "He was calling me over to the bench, 'Hey coach, hey coach. And he hands me his foot, like, 'I broke my foot.'" Watson expressed gratitude for the support, saying, "I'm really appreciative. I'm really blessed," as he looks to continue playing in the last two games of the season, as reported by 12 News.
