Published: May 05, 2008 05:10 pm         

Tourney raises funds for Cato family

By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Some area golfers recently hit the links to lend a hand to the family of injured wrestler Brandon Cato.

A benefit golf tournament, organized by the Gardendale Professional Firefighters Association, was held April 21 at Castle Pines Country Club.

Shawn Watkins, a Gardendale firefighter and member of the firefighters’ union, said about 92 golfers were on hand to play.

The purpose of the tournament was to help the Cato family with expenses while Brandon continues to receive care at The Shepherd, a rehabilitation center in Atlanta.

The 16-year-old Gardendale High School wrestler and football player was injured in a wrestling tournament on Dec. 22.

The tournament raised about $9,000. Firefighters were to travel to Atlanta to deliver the check to the Cato family.

Barry Cato, Brandon’s father, has been without work since March after using up all of his FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) hours at his job at Alabama Crown. However, Cato’s wife, Vicki, is still employed at O’Neal Steel. She travels from their Gardendale home to Atlanta on Fridays and returns on Sunday.

“When we went into this, we knew it was going to be tough,” Barry Cato said Thursday. “It’s the best for him that I be here. ... We made a great decision.”

He said Brandon continues to improve weekly since he was moved to the facility from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital on Feb. 5.

Cato said Brandon moved his thumb and is gradually regaining his speech.

“He can say some words,” he said. “We’re working hard to connect his brain to his tongue.”

Brandon is also now able to eat solid foods. Cato said his son ate chicken on Wednesday.

“He hasn’t had any solid foods since his accident,” he said. “In just the last week to week-and-a-half, things have advanced so fast.”

Cato expressed his gratitude to the Gardendale Professional Firefighters Association and to those who donated time and money to be a part of the tournament.

“I’m not working right now, so every dime that someone contributes helps us,” he said.

This is the second large-scale fund-raiser for the firefighters’ union. The group organized a Christmas For Kids campaign last year.

Watkins thanked the tournament sponsors, which included O’Neal Steel and Alabama Crown. He also expressed thanks to the Gardendale Fire Department and the Gardendale Civic Center for helping with the event.