Ashland community rallies around high school football player, Tay Thomas, after serious accident
Although Ashland, Kentucky holds a population of just over 20,000 people, the community is coming together for 17-year-old Atayveon “Tay” Thomas.
The Ashland football player was involved in a serious car accident over the weekend, along with two other students. The accident, which took place on April 13, left Thomas paralyzed from the waist down.
Since then, Ashland has rallied around the high school junior, including a gathering of hundreds of students, teachers, and community members who took the time to say a prayer for him.
Thomas had actually taken a recruiting visit to the University of Kentucky on the same day as the accident, looking to join the team in college. He was a talented athlete, finishing his junior season as a running back with 941 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Thomas wasn’t just an athlete, however, he was a bright student with a 3.8 GPA.
Thomas’s mom, Cassie Menshouse, said that her son is “family-oriented” and “loved to make people happy.” She also said his teammates are his life, and he loves to make them laugh. Menshouse added that the athlete loves to be looked up to by his peers.
On October 27, 2023, for KSR’s final Kroger Game of the Week of the regular season, Thomas had a standout performance. The junior recorded two touchdowns with 185 rushing yards, including a 94-yard rush down the sideline to tie it up with Simon Kenton. Thomas even scored the first points of the game, a 76-yard rushing touchdown with 11 minutes to go in the first quarter. He also recorded eight solo tackles and and four tackles for loss.
Ashland would go on to win the game, 49-42, and completed their regular season 9-1.
A GoFundMe was organized for Thomas and his family and has raised over $11,000 as of April 16. Local businesses are even putting together fundraisers and events to support the family. Sadie Jane’s Lemonade is donating 100% of the proceeds on Thursday, April 17th to help with medical and travel expenses. Ashland’s Texas Roadhouse is holding a fundraiser on Monday, April 22, to donate 100% of the profits to the family. Charisma, a local salon, created a t-shirt to support the family. The salon will be donating at least half of its proceeds to Thomas and his family. Paige Moore, a classmate of Thomas and owner of The Thread Bar, also designed a t-shirt in honor of her friend.
“If you know Tay, he was an amazing athlete, always pitching a hand,” Moore said. “[Thomas] excelled in the classroom and being the Tomcat role model to every little one looks up to.”
If there’s one thing I can say about Ashland, it’s that it’s a community like no other. The people are ready to help Thomas and his family get through a tragic situation. If you feel led to give, want to make a trip to Ashland for dinner, or just need a new t-shirt, please consider one of the above options.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard