ATHOL — The community continues to rally for 13-year-old Javan Fox, who remains hospitalized at UMass Medical Center in Worcester after having been struck by a vehicle the past Tuesday while riding his bicycle. The youth sustained head injuries, facial fractures, fractures to his vertebrae, and a broken wrist according to his mother.
Selectman Lee Chauvette, who has known the young man for awhile, reported during the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday that Javan has made “marked improvement.”
He said many people, including youths in Javan’s age bracket, want to express their support and asked how to get cards to the young man.
Cards and notes may be dropped off at two locations; the Athol Fire Station and the Athol Pharmacy, 290 Main Street, where Javan’s mother, Devone, is employed.
Chauvette said, “They will be collected and delivered to the family for Javan to read later.”
Chauvette also noted that some parents have contacted him, “A lot of kids are having difficulty dealing with this,” he said, of their friend being injured.
With school right around the corner, the district has decided to open the Athol Royalston Middle School gymnasium on Thursday, Aug. 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. for students to go and meet with their peers, talk things over among themselves or with two counselors who will be on hand to provide support.