Tractor Fun Run to benefit two young adults

A tradition since 2007, the annual Floyd County Tractor Fun Run has collected and donated more than $81,000 to local charities that help families in need, including Medical Charities of Floyd County, the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley and Floyd County Young Life.

The 18th annual Fun Run will benefit Josiah Cockram and Madison Zeman when it takes place on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Twenty-year-old Josiah Cockram survived a traumatic crash in April and is dealing with a complicated recovery.

The son of Sean and Gina Cockram, Josiah graduated from Floyd County High School in 2023 and is the brother of Leah (Cole), Mya and Ava.

Josiah was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age three but has never let it slow him down or keep him from achieving his dreams, including working at Maples Restaurant and Tavern in Laurel Fork with the ultimate goal of becoming a chef.

Gina wrote about his experiences for the fundraiser’s website to help bring awareness to the cause and said the accident occurred on April 17 on Conner Grove.

Josiah was air lifted to Roanoke Memorial, and his initial injuries included a bilateral dissection of his carotid arteries — “he only had one vessel supplying blood to his brain,” Gina said — as well as a broken femur, broken tibia, broken fibula, broken bones in both his left and right arms, broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung, facial fractures, and more.

Surgeries started right away, and his family wasn’t able to see him until the next day, on April 18, Gina said.

Then, on April 19, they started noticing decreased movement in his left side, which led to the discovery of Josiah having had a stroke.

He was moved into the Progressive Care Unit 10 days later, where he had another surgery, and his medical team struggled to control his blood sugar as he dealt with extreme pain.

On May 8, Josiah was moved to inpatient rehabilitation, where they got him up and moving again, and he was able to start eating purees, Gina said.

“He began to talk a little, and at the end of the three weeks Josiah had some movement in his left arm, and with help, he actually walked out of rehab to get into our car,” she added.

He’s now going through outpatient rehab (which could last up to two years) in Salem, focusing on balance, left hand movement and speech.

“Josiah’s condition has improved so much — he’s already doing things the doctors doubted he would ever do again, but he still has a long road to recovery,” Gina said. “Josiah has always been so smart, witty and full of life, never letting anything get in his way. Our goal is to do whatever we can to get him back to doing the things he enjoys and being independent again.”

Madison Zeman graduated from FCHS in 2024, and she has always had a strong faith and connection to music.

The daughter of Michael and Leigh Ann Zeman, Madison lives in the Alum Ridge area with her family, including her little sister Bethany, and is majoring in Music Education at Radford University.

After finding a lump on her left arm in February of this year, Madison was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which is an extremely rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that usually requires a fairly intense treatment due to its ability to mutate.

Leigh Ann, who wrote about Madison’s diagnosis for the Tractor Fun Run’s website, said that Madison picked a care team at the University of Virginia for her treatment and immediately started chemotherapy.

“She receives chemotherapy treatments on a weekly basis. Sometimes once a week, and sometimes multiple days in the week. UVA has partnered with the Blue Ridge Cancer Center in Roanoke and some of the treatments are being done there to save on travel,” Leigh Ann said. “The plan is for her to complete 12 weeks of chemo, then possibly radiation, then surgery to remove the remainder of the tumor. After her surgery, she will undergo an additional six months of chemo.”

Growing up, Madison was involved with Floyd Junior Appalachian Musicians and the Blue Ridge Music Strings program. During the 2023-2024 season, she was a member of the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra.

She volunteered with several youth groups throughout the years — including God’s Kids, Camp Imagination, The Little White Church’s Camp Sonshine, Topeco Church Camp and Floyd County YoungLife — to complete mission trips and other service projects.

At Radford, she has been a member of the University Chamber Strings Orchestra and the University Community Symphony, and she serves on the board of the Virginia Blue Ridge Music Festival, as well as being a member of the C3 Campus Ministry group.

Leigh Ann noted that up until her recent diagnosis, Madison played violin for the worship team at Compassion Church in Radford.

She added that their family is “blessed to live in Floyd County where we have been blown away by the kindness and support of so many loved ones. We have seen the evidence of how God makes a way through times of trouble, and this gives us hope and strength for the battle.”

Madison’s surgery to remove the tumor in her arm took place on Aug. 6, and Leigh Ann said it went well “with no complications.”
“We’re making progress,” she added.

Registration for the Aug. 16 ride will begin at Arlie Thompson’s Farm (992 Christiansburg Pike) at 8 a.m., and the ride will begin at 10 a.m. The cost to ride in the procession, either as a passenger or as a driver of a tractor, is $20. Pack a lunch to enjoy along the route.

A pre-registration form and more information can be found online at www.floydcountytractorfunrun.net.

2025 Route

Right on 693 Needmore Rd
Left on Rt 8
Left at Traffic Light
Right on 681 Franklin Pike
Left on 860 Shooting Creek
Right on 690 Sandy Flats (gravel)
Right on 679 Poor Farm
Left on 681 Franklin Pike
Left on 661 Thompson Rd (gravel)
Right on 661 Harris Cannaday School Rd
Right on 661 Whitlock Rd
Left on 661 Boothe Creek
Straight on 661 Kings Store Rd
Left on 610 Daniels Run Rd
Left on 670 Coles Knob Rd
Straight on Coles Knob Rd

Stop and enjoy a peaceful farm setting for lunch

Right on 679 Bethlehem Church Rd
Left on 686 Moore Rd.
Left on 615 Christiansburg Pike
Back to Arlie Thompson Farm