Local Teen Spends Summer Fundraising for Wounded Warrior Project

Brady, who works two days a week at Kettle Korn on Broadway in addition to mowing lawns, walking dogs and selling water at the track, is saving money for college and a car along with raising funds for the WWP.   

“I thought it would be good to help the troops,” Colin said. “I plan on joining ROTC when I’m in college, so that’s another reason—I feel pretty proud to know I’m affecting people who fought for their country and to defend their country.”

Colin’s father, Joseph Brady, described his son as “very patriotic.”

“He’s a hardworking kid,” Joseph said. “To me, he’s not the typical kid who is sitting around all summer doing nothing—he has the personal drive to do these things all on his own accord.”

Joseph said that Colin has come a long way since he was born prematurely at a mere 1 pound, 10 ounces.  

“He spent 127 days in the neonatal ICU at St. Peters Hospital,” Joseph recalled. “But now he’s normal and has no problems except that he’s blind in his left eye, but his right eye has perfect vision.”

The Saratoga Springs High School sophomore said he is going to attempt to raise $1,000 this summer after raising $698 dollars for WWP last year. 

Colin sells water out of an over a decade-old lemonade stand with wagon wheels at the entrance of the track located by East Avenue. 

“It’s taught him how to deal with people and how to engage people and ask for business,” Joseph said, laughing as he recalled a story about Colin dealing with inebriated track attendees last summer. 

“One time some folks were going into the track and they were already drunk and they didn’t want to carry their coolers inside, so he offered to take their coolers on his wagon for $20 or $40 and they did it, so he made a little extra money that day,” Joseph said. 

After high school, Colin hopes to attend either RPI or RIT to possibly major in mechanical engineering. 

“I’m very proud of him,” Joseph said. “He’s a good and nice kid—he overcame an awful lot in his early years to get to where he is today.”

“I’m happy with what I’m doing,” Colin said. “It feels good to help out.”