A McIntosh graduate is convalescing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after he was seriously injured in Afghanistan last week.

Daniel Berschinski, a 1st lieutenant in the Army, lost both his legs in an explosion when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while his unit secured a village in Afghanistan Aug. 17, a family friend told The Citizen.

A fund has been established to help the Berschinski family as they will need to make multiple trips back and forth between Washington to help care for Daniel. Donations may be sent dropped off at the SouthCrest Bank in Tyrone on Ga. Highway 74 across from the SouthHampton Publix shopping center.

Donations may also be mailed to 105 St. Stephens Court, Suite A, Tyrone, Ga. 30290.

Berschinski, who earned his Eagle Boy Scout as a member of Peachtree City’s Troop 175, is being visited in Washington, D.C. by his parents Bob and Susan and brother Rob, who works as a civilian for the office of the secretary of defense in Washington.

The doctors don’t think Berschinski suffered any brain damage but he lost both his legs in the blast, the family friend said.

Berschinski is a member of the Army’s 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 17th regiment. He graduated from McIntosh High School in 2002.

Local photographer Rainy Chastine has offered to collect flight passes, frequent flyer miles, and donations for the family at her Fayetteville studio located at 255 East Lanier Avenue, Fayetteville.

Chastine is asking for get well wishes, cards, photos and the like to be sent to Rainyinga@aol.com so they can be put in a digital frame for Berschinski to watch in his room.