Fairfield's Sticks For Soldiers Tournament Helps Cheshire Soldier

Wounded Cheshire soldier Army Spc. Josh Budd of Cheshire recently received a donation from the Sticks For Soldiers Tournament held last Thanksgiving weekend at

Budd received a third of the $50,400 proceeds from the tournament, according to organizer Jim Tommins. USMC Sgt. Liam Dwyer of Litchfield, and Tech Sgt     (ret.) Joe Wilkinson of Nassau, New York, shared the donation equally.

Tommins reports he and his son, Michael, a varsity lacrosse player for Ludlowe, personally delivered the donation to Budd and Dwyer. The two are recuperating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland after being injured in July 2011 while on duty in Afghanistan.

Budd's mother, Barbara Budd, said last fall that support by the lacrosse players and organizers was encouraging for the soldiers. "... to know that they are not forgotten,” she said in a statement.

Budd has been at Walter Reed for most of the the past eight months after he lost his left leg when his patrol was hit by a bomb. His right leg was also severerly injured and he had internal injuries.

While his medical care is paid for by the army, other costs, such as travel by the family and renovations for accessible living at the family home, are not.

The benefit event has raised more than $155,000 over the last five years. The 2010 honoree, Brendan Marrocco, worked with organizers to choose this year's recipients.

The 2012 tournament will be held on Thanksgiving Saturday, Nov. 24 at Fairfield Ludlowe High School.