In 2011, my brother, Joshua Budd, was serving our country in Afghanistan when his life changed forever. He lost his left leg in combat, an injury that could have stopped him, but didn’t. With the support of neighbors, family, friends, and his own determination, he fought his way back, learned to walk, run, live with a prosthetic, and rebuilt his life.

Since being injured, he has gone on to build a life he’s incredibly proud of. He found the love of his life and is now raising three beautiful daughters. He’s continued to push forward with strength, resilience, and a positive outlook while never letting his injury define him.

Over the past 16 years, while continuing to serve our country in the Army, he has held onto meaningful pieces of his journey. Items that told his story. These were more than just belongings. They were pieces of his story, his service, his sacrifice, and his recovery. His ballistic vest and uniform, cut from him the day he was wounded, the wheelchair that carried him through his first days home, his original Infantry Shoulder Cord, countless hard-earned awards from years of military service, and so many other deeply meaningful items.

Last night, a fire destroyed a shed on his property. In that fire, he lost not just tools and equipment, but all of those irreplaceable items tied to his military service and recovery journey.

We know that many of these things can never truly be replaced. The memories and meaning behind them are one of a kind. We are not asking for a large amount. We simply want to show him that the support he once received, and the appreciation for his sacrifice, is still there.

This fundraiser is to help him rebuild the shed, replace some of the tools he used, and give him a small sense of restoration after such a devastating loss.

More than anything, we want him to know he is not alone and that people still care. Any support, whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this page, means more than we can put into words.

Please know that this fundraiser was created out of love and support. Josh did not ask for this, and in fact would never ask, but we wanted to come together as a community to give back to someone who has given so much.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story and for standing behind someone who sacrificed so much.