Sticks for Soldiers Lacrosse Classic
Fairfield Connecticut
The 6th annual Sticks for Soldiers Classic was once again held at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Fairfield, CT on Saturday November 26th 2011.
Sticks For Soldiers is a charity lacrosse tournament held in Fairfield, Connecticut to raise money for wounded troops. The primary mission of this tournament is to provide support and give thanks to the service men and women who put their lives on the line and sacrificed for our country.
Raising money and creating awareness
A worthwhile secondary objective is create a mature awareness among high school athletes to the unseen sacrifices being made on their behalf by people just a few years older than themselves. Through their play and fund-raising participation, the athletes can demonstrate their tangible thanks and support.
Over $155,000 raised since 2006
The tournament, held always on Thanksgiving Saturday, has raised $155,000 in 6 years, and is an anticipated regional fall-ball competition. Varsity and sub-varsity teams from Tri- State area high schools will participate in a 7-on-7 tournament game format and each team will play at least 3 games. Team entry fees, T- shirt sales, silent auction, sponsors, raffles and private donations will be donated to this year's cause. In 2011, recognizing the 10th anniversary of 9/11, 37 teams entered the tournament, including a High School Girls Lacrosse bracket for the first time. The tournament usually will start at 9:00 am and conclude by approximately 3:30 pm with a mid-day ceremony to honor the beneficiaries.
This year, we honor three soldiers from Connecticut and New York
This year’s efforts will support three severely-injured servicemen: USMC Sgt. Liam Dwyer of Litchfield, Connecticut; Army Pfc. Josh Budd of Cheshire, Connecticut; and USAF Tech Sgt. Joe Wilkinson of Troy, New York. They each suffered injuries in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In mid -year 2011, Sgt. Dwyer (30) and Pfc. Budd (19) were injured in separate IED explosions within Afghanistan. Each soldier lost his left leg and received injuries to other limbs, along with extensive soft tissue damage from the shrapnel. They are both being treated with additional surgeries, rehab and prosthetic therapy at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.
Veteran Tech Sgt. Wilkinson (32) has progressive leg paralysis and strength loss as the result of a compromised spinal cord with an unclear diagnosis or cause. He served in the USAF Security forces for 12 years from 1997 to 2009. Since returning in 2006, he has endured 2 spinal surgeries and many months of therapy and rehab at Walter Reed and the VA Hospitals in Albany and Syracuse. He is mostly confined to a wheelchair, and struggling to support his wife and 3 young children in a house needing improved accessibility. Read more about these fine men on the 2011 Honorees page
We are making a difference, and you can help
Last year, over $60,000 was raised. The funds raised were donated entirely toward the construction of a wheelchair accessible home for Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco of nearby Staten Island NY (see Brendan’s story on our page dedicated to Brendan). A total of 24 teams from CT and NJ participated in this past year's event. The Ludlowe Lacrosse family of Fairfield, Connecticut would like to thank everyone for their generous support of this past year's event.
This past December a group of Fairfield Ludlowe players had the opportunity to travel to Staten Island to meet with Brendan and to see first hand the construction of Brendan’s new home. Inside Lacrosse did featured article about the event which appeared in the Feburary issue. Click Here To View The Link
For more on Brendan’s Story please see the web page we have dedicated to Specialist Marrocco.
If interested in additional information or to secure a team spot in the 2011 event please contact Mike Voucas, Founder at mike.voucas@yellowbook.com, or Jim Tommins, Event Chairman for 2011 at jtommins@yahoo.com.
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