Veteran’s organization donates track chair to Cedar Key veteran and paralympic athlete

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (WCJB) - An organization dedicated to providing programs and services to veterans gave an all-terrain track chair to a Cedar Key veteran.

Carl Judd served 21 years in the U.S. Army and Navy. In 2021, he was injured in Afghanistan in an indirect fire blast. He medically retired in 2024.

As part of his rehabilitation, Judd got involved in sports like boccia ball and shooting. He is competing in the Great Lake Games, a competition for paralympic athletes. He says the chair The Independence Fund is providing to him is a game changer.

“The chair is one of the items that I cannot afford on my own,” Judd said. “Since adaptive sports have become a large part of my life, it means a lot to have the right equipment to both compete and practice.”

The donation of the chair was made possible through a gift made in memory of Mario Karcich, a fellow U.S. Army veteran who moved on to work in law enforcement.

Mario’s family says they are more than happy to continue his legacy and help others who have served.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.