CHRIS MADISON
2017 Charity Bowl Recipient
Chris Madison, 26, is the son of Jacqueline Madison and younger brother of Courtney Madison. Playing football in Memphis, Tennessee since he was 6 years old, Chris always had the dream of playing in the NFL.
Chris played his high school ball at Manassas High School in North Memphis for Sigma Nu Brother Bill Courtney, Epsilon Xi 1385, where he was a senior captain on the team that turned Manassas’ perennial losing football program into conference champions. At 6 feet and 185 lbs, Chris was an all-conference selection as a receiver and kick returner with extraordinarily sure hands and was timed in the 40 yard dash at 4.6 seconds. On the field, he chose the jersey number 6 so that he was constantly reminded that his job was to get 6 points for his team with a touchdown.
A promising talent, Chris was recruited by many colleges and received a full football scholarship. After graduating high school, he enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Monticello with the aspirations of a career in football and undergraduate education.
After completing his first year of college, Chris came home to Memphis for a short summer break before returning to school to prepare for the next fall’s season. During that break, on June 18, 2010, Chris’ dreams and destiny were changed forever. Accompanying his cousin on an hour drive to up Interstate 40 on a rainy evening tragedy struck. Chris recalls nothing from the actual accident itself, but only remembers waking up ejected from the car, lying motionless as two passersby stopped and administered CPR. To this day, Chris has no idea who the two men are, where they came from, or where they went afterwards. He simply calls these two men his guardian angels because physicians later credited them with saving his life. His next recollection was waking up in a hospital bed in Memphis completely paralyzed from his waist down with additional nerve damage to his hands and arms, realizing his life would never be the same.
At the young age of 19, his entire life changed drastically. Laying in a hospital bed after being informed he would never walk again, his first thought was, “How will I provide for my family and what will I do now”. In an instant, football was gone forever, his dreams of playing professionally vanquished, and his goal immediately turned to survival. His mother and grandmother, committed and faithful ladies, always taught Chris to keep the faith, believe, and trust in God, and in the words of the Ole Miss football legend Chucky Mullins himself, “Never quit”. And Chris has not. Despite the tragedy and loss, Chris has persevered through adversity. Inspirationally, he sees everyday as a blessing and miracle to have the breath of life. Had it not been for his two unknown angels and a host of very skilled physicians, Chris is well aware he would not be with us today. For these reasons, he strives to seize every second of life his survival has afforded him.
Today, Chris continues extensive physical therapy in order to maintain and regain motor function. Remarkably, he lives on his own in Memphis and dreams of returning to college to complete his education and find job that he will allow him to provide for himself and his family. As such, he still has huge obstacles to realize his educational aspirations. Without reliable, accessible transportation, he cannot finish his education and must wait for someone to be available to take him to physical therapy and elsewhere. Proving his will and toughness, his dream is to be able to completely care for himself so he does not need to rely on anyone else, but rather so that others can rely on him. Chris tells us that his first step towards his goals is to finish the physical therapy that will enable him to drive an accessible automobile and open the doors of education and independence.
The brothers of Sigma Nu are wholly moved by the spirit of determination and service Chris personifies as he overcomes his obstacles, and we are honored to be a part of Chris’ inspiring journey. Through our fundraising, we aim to enable Chris to receive the necessary therapy, purchase accessible transportation, and achieve his dreams of a college education and employment so that he can provide for his family and others facing similar challenges.
“ Never give up.”
DONATE TODAY
We hope that you will support Chris Madison as the recipient of the 2017 Sigma Nu Charity Bowl.
Funding is raised for Charity Bowl through Charity Bowl program advertisement sales and financial donations.
You can support Charity Bowl through our website or by mailing in a printable form.