Football Contest Benefits Injured Soldier Josh Budd

A football throwing contest at the Cheshire Junior Football Jamboree on Saturday raised $600 for injured Cheshire soldier Josh Budd and his family. The contest at Bartlem Park was organized by Kathy Ecke and the Cheshire Gridiron Club.

The winners of each division are:
2nd grade & under:  Eric Quint, Cheshire
3rd & 4th grade:  Ryan Parent, Southington
5th grade:  Nico Gaudio, Cheshire
6th grade:  Ryan Montalvo, Southington
7th grade:  Brian Weyrauch, Cheshire
8th grade:  Megan Hodgdon, Cheshire
High School:  Sebastian Little, Cheshire
Adult Male:  Gregory Palmer, Cheshire
Adult Female:  Amy Nelson, Cheshire

Ecke said members of the Cheshire High School Football team volunteered to supervise the contest. They were kept busy measuring the length of each throw and explaining the rules to contestants.

CJF volunteer Judy Senft said the donations were for a cause close to her heart. "The big kids helped the little kids," during the contest, she said. Each contestant was allowed three throws for a minimum donation of $5.

Funds raised will support Pfc. Budd, 19, who was seriously injured in July while serving with the US Army in Afghanistan.

Budd was on patrol when his unit was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). As a result, Budd lost one leg, severely fractured his other leg, and suffered other serious internal injuries. He is being treated at a hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland.

The second fundraising event of the weekend for the Budd family will be held today from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. at Bartlem Park. The benefit softball tournament is being organized by Cheshire Youth Baseball and Softball. 

For tournament rules, registration and more information, click on this link:

http://www.cybball.org/Events/JoshBudd/SoftballBenefit.htm

The  is also accepting donations for Budd, who is the son of veteran and Life Member David Budd.

"Budd’s Buddies" is a newly formed group of residents who are working to provide the soldier with a specially adapted pickup truck when he returns to Cheshire.

All non-tax deductible donations can be made to:

The Josh Budd Wounded War Vet Fund

C/O Naugatuck Savings Bank

218 Maple Avenue

Cheshire, CT 06416

-or-

PayPal Account: buddsbuddies@cox.net

The next fundraiser for Budd will be held on Sept. 11 at the VFW Hall in Prospect.