SSG Christopher J. Birdwell Memorial Fundraiser Sunday August 23

Bring your friends and family out on Sunday, August 23 to not only honor a local hero, but to raise money for two great military related charities.

The SSGChristopher Birdwell Memorial Fundraiser is a yearly event that raises money for two causes that are close to Jim and Pam Birdwell. This year's fundraiser will be held on Sunday, August 23 at Island Lake Marine and Sports (5887 SW Frontage Rd.) from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and I will also be on-site doing a live broadcast from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Suggested donation is $25 for adults and $10 for kids 10-years-old and under; kids three and under are free. There will be all kinds of fun activities to do including boat rides, canoeing, paddle boats, volleyball, horseshoe pits, water trampoline and so much more. All money raised will be split between the following two charities:

• Honker Down for Wounded Warriors - This local event, headed by Jeremy Heid, gets veterans together to go on organized bird hunts here in the United States and also Canada. The idea is to get veterans together so they can feel comfortable in each others company, talk about things only they can understand and help heal wounds that can't be seen.

• Fisher House - Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. Homes are all across the country and you can find a place near you on their website map.

For those who don't know who Christopher Birdwell was, he was a local from Windsor, graduating from Windsor High School in 2005. He joined the Army in 2006 with three deployments to Afghanistan. It was in 2012, while he and and other troops were getting a vehicle ready to be towed that had just been hit by an IED, the unit was again attacked, killing Birdwell and also SPC. Mabry Anders from Oregon.

The family wanted to honor all veterans after Christopher was Killed In Action so they decided to host this annual fundraiser to help local charities and veterans.