Josh-ing Around: Second Annual ‘Josh Fight’ Raises $20k For Children’s Hospital

The second annual “Josh Fight” took place in Lincoln, Nebraska, over the weekend.

The event, which originated in 2020 as a tweet that went viral, raised more than $20,000 for the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. More than 200 people, Joshes and non-Joshes alike, showed up to Bowling Lake Park in Lincoln at noon Saturday, armed with foam pool noodles, to battle for the honor of being named the “Number 1 Josh,” the Lincoln Journal Star reported.

“Lincoln, you’ve done it again,” event organizer Josh Swain said, via the Lincoln Journal Star. “The enthusiasm from everybody here was just incredible.” Swain, a native of Tucson, Arizona, organized the first Josh fight in 2021, after one of his social media posts went viral. The success of the first event prompted Swain to organize another event this year.

The title of “Number 1 Josh” was awarded to five-year old Josh Vinson, Jr., who also won the title during the first Josh Fight last year. Four-year-old Josh Folmar was the runner-up. Folmar secured his second-place spot in the battle wearing a “Captain Josh Sparrow” costume, the Journal Star reported. A number of other challengers wore costumes to do battle against their fellow Joshes. The event also featured a costume contest: Battle Creek, Nebraska, native Josh Rakowsky won, dressed as “The Real Josh Shady.”

“I think that’s amazing that they are able to take something that started off as some guy being bored texting … and then turned around and actually made something out of it,” said Tony Rupert, who attended last year’s event and returned to compete again this year. “It’s not something you hear about very often.”

In all, the event raised $20,576 for the Omaha Children’s Hospital. Swain also established a fundraiser, which will continue to collect donations through Monday. Fast food giant Burger

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