Blacksmith hopes to win $10,000 prize to take recovered wife to Hawaii

Susan Duda-Osborne, a Belleville High School teacher who is on a leave of absence as she is treated for breast cancer, announces her husband Chad Osborne has been invited to compete on a television reality show that showcases forging skills.
He is a Mackinac Island blacksmith and hopes to win the $10,000 top prize to take his recovered wife to Hawaii on vacation.
Chad lives on Mackinac Island seasonally from May until the end of October and works at Jack’s Livery Stable and Cindy’s Riding Stable. Susan said they are provided with a home on the island and she joins him after school is out in the summer.
During the off-season winter months he makes hand-forged knives for customers looking for a one-of-a-kind blade, sword or weapon. Some of his hand-forged knives can be seen at his website: osborneforge.dudaone.com .
He will be featured on History Channel’s Forged in Fire as one of four competitors attempting to forge the best knife within a specific amount of time.
One competitor is eliminated after the blade is forged. Then, a second competitor is eliminated after the handle is made and the finished knife is put through a performance test.
The final two contestants are sent back to their home forges to make a historical weapon within a 45-hour time frame. The weapon and competitor then return to Brooklyn, NY, for judging and three performance tests.
The competitor with the best weapon is crowned “Forged in Fire Champion”. The season premiere of Forged in Fire is Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 10 p.m. Chad will be competing in the episode that is scheduled to air on Tuesday, March 29, at 10 p.m.
The winner is awarded $10,000. If Chad wins, he said he would like to use the money to take Susan on a Hawaiian trip after her cancer treatment is finished. She has had surgery and is currently undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and endocrine therapy.
Information provided by Susan Duda-Osborne.