Rosedale Golf Classic brings veterans, community members together

Wesley Chapel's Roberto Cruz was deployed in the Army for 8-and-a-half months when he was shot by a sniper in Iraq in 2005. He felt numb, falling on his back. He was paralyzed. 

"When I got home, it was very challenging to do things in daily living in a house that is not adapted for you," Cruz said. "You have to deal with all these challenges that you never thought you were going to deal with like steps in the kitchen." 

He went through years of therapy and now Cruz is able to walk. On some days his legs still get stiff and he loses his balance. He uses a wheelchair whenever he sees fit. 

The 2026 Rosedale Golf Classic, which was founded by Rosedale's Kathi Skelton and Deb Kehoe, took place April 15 at the Rosedale Golf and Country Club. 

It benefits Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds modified and specialized homes for veterans that served in Iraq or Afghanistan that have lost a limb, the use of one, or their eyesight. 

On a typical year the fundraiser is for one veteran receiving a new home. This year, it was for two — Cruz and Eddie Ward. Ward is currently living in San Antonio, Texas and Cruz is in Wesley Chapel. They will both be moving to San Antonio, Florida on the same street. 

Ward served in Afghanistan and leaned on a landmine in 2011, which resulted in the loss of his right leg above the knee. He currently lives in a two story house and is excited to be in a one story, built just for him. He is also a diving instructor and is excited to be near the ocean. 

"That was probably one of the biggest changing moments of my life, when they gave me that certificate of acceptance," Ward said. "I'm just speechless, have deep gratitude and just over the over the moon. It's something I haven't felt in a while." 

Bill Ivey, the executive director of Homes for Our Troops, said the homes will have over 40 major adaptations to be fully accessible when Ward and Cruz are in their wheelchairs. These include roll in showers, roll under countertops, roll under sinks, rolling stove top and more.

"Folks see veterans on their prosthetics and they've got mountain climbing prosthetics, running prosthetics, walking prosthetics, but they don't see when you get home, they would take those legs off and be in the chair and be functional." 

Cruz said it means the world to him knowing he's not alone and that there will always be support available for him and his family. 

Skelton and Kehoe, who are 82 and 78, said they have been glad to have raised over $1.7 million for the nonprofit since 2013 (not including this year's amount). They hope the event goes on for years and years and estimate their leadership will be present for a couple more years.

"We just want people to understand what we're trying to do," Skelton said. "It's not just about giving money, they (the donors, participants) see the results."

"It puts a face to the dollar which makes them want to give more," Kehoe said.