HEROES ON THE WATER

HEROES ON THE WATER

Paddle. Fish. Heal.

The Heroes on the Water program lets mother nature do what she has done for hundreds of years: heal. It’s an individual thing, each wounded warrior draws something different from it. But to a person, each one reconnects with a part of himself or herself that they thought was lost.

Heroes on the Water helps injured service members with their physical and mental recovery using the therapeutic qualities of fishing from kayaks. Every HOW event across the country brings together wounded military personnel for guided kayak fishing excursions. Participants are taught kayaking and kayak fishing basics, and sometimes adaptive kayaks and paddling equipment are required. Warriors hang out with other kayak anglers, connect with colleagues and most of all leave behind stresses and memories for several hours communing with nature.

They also learn a new pastime, one that can be there for them when they need to escape and restore their self-confidence. One that will help to instill self-reliance and hope, helping them and their families restore their relationship and transition back into society. View pictures of the HOW Brooke Army Medical Center 10 week program for Spring 2011 and Summer 2011.

With chapters across the country, we have teams of volunteers that arrange first-rate, absolutely free kayak fishing trips for the men and women of all branches of service. Their commitment to giving back to the men and women who have given so much makes it possible to deliver this program nationwide in local areas. Consider how you might be able to assist in helping more wounded veterans to experience kayak fishing and the outdoors through the HOW program.

Become a Member

The Heroes on the Water program is carried out across the country by dedicated volunteers seeking to make a difference in the lives of our wounded warriors and their families.

There are many ways you can help Heroes on the Water whether it is assisting with taking injured service men and women on kayak fishing excursions, helping with the administrative tasks of planning and carrying out an outing, assisting with registration or coordinating the food at an event, or to start up a Heroes on the Water Chapter in your area.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, we encourage you to contact us.

Let us know how a little bit about yourself, your location, your experience paddling and/or fishing, any affiliation you may have with the military, and how you would like to serve as a volunteer and we will be in touch with you to explore the possibility.

Contact them now to help click here to Volunteer

Why they do what they do

Today’s Warriors are exposed to hostile fire and sustained combat stress 3-6x longer than their fathers and grandfathers endured. During World War II, the average time spent in the combat zone was 7 months. During the Vietnam War the average was 15 months, whereas during the Global War on Terror, the average time a warrior spends in combat is 45 months.

The good news is that modern technology helps our troops survive wounds that were fatal in prior wars. However, many of the wounds are invisible: 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan Vets show signs of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or depression.

From 2003 to the present time (2010), there have been 5,773 U.S armed forces deaths and 31,902 ‘visible’ wounded from hostile fire, IED amputations, burns and other injuries.* In addition, it is estimated that there are 300,000 suffering with PTSD and 320,000 with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Reports indicate that the numbers of injured military personnel is increasing by 50 per month since mid-2008.**

Alarmingly, there are 950 suicide attempts each month by veterans who are receiving some type of treatment from the Veterans Affairs Department with an average of 18 veterans committing suicide each day. ***

Heroes on the Water’s mission is to help wounded warriors relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate into society through kayak fishing and the outdoors. Over the past three years of taking a few thousand men and women of all branches of the armed services out kayak fishing, we have learned firsthand the ‘triple therapy’ of kayak fishing – physical with paddling and fishing, occupational in learning new skills and a sport they can do for life, and mental in the relaxation and freedom out on the water. Their words say it best…

“You have given us a new sport that we can do with our injuries. Best of all, I really yearn for a morning in the woods with my bike or a long run down our country road... those thoughts have been replaced by talk of new fishing tackle, rods, water craft, and terrain. You have no idea how mentally and physically healing your program is. Thank you!! Thank you for your time, your expertise, your passion, and your dedication to the military in which you served. We feel blessed!! From a wounded Army Captain and participant in HOW

Heroes on the Water is committed to driving this tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these well deserving veterans who have given so much for us and our freedom. We strongly encourage you to consider how you can support renewing the spirits and restoring the hearts of our wounded warriors so they can realize their best future!

Support Heroes on the Water - Ways to Donate

Online @ www.heroesonthewater.org

Donations can be made through a secure online form with PayPay by clicking this DONATE button to be brought to the page.

A $25 donation will put a wounded veteran on the water for a day!”

By Mail

If you prefer to make a contribution by check, make it payable to Heroes on the Water and mail it to: Heroes on the Water, 101-C N. Greenville Ave. #55, Allen, TX 75002.

By Making a Donation in Honor or Memory of Someone Special

This is a meaningful way to remember and celebrate the life of a loved one while also supporting our wounded troops. Let us know who you want to honor or memorialize and we will send a letter informing them of your donation on their behalf.

For a donation honoring or celebrating someone special - provide us with the person's name and address for the letter to be sent.

For a donation in memory of a loved one - provide us with the individual's name and the name and address for the person or family to which the letter is to be sent.

Questions pertaining to donations?

Please call us at 214.295.4541

Your support makes it possible for more injured service men and women to experience the healing power of kayak fishing - Thank You!

Donations to Heroes on the Water are tax deductible depending on an individual's particular situation.

Exclusive: Military fishing program sparks interest across the country [HD]
Posted on: July 3, 2011
Reported by: Katherine Lane

Jim Dolan calls himself a born and raised redneck bass fisherman. He started a nonprofit in north Texas called Heroes on the Water as a way to give back to the military men and women that have given so much to our country. Heroes on the Water serves the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

“We take them out kayak fishing, which has turned out to be incredibly therapeutic,” said President of Heroes on the Water Jim Dolan. “We had no idea what we were doing and how therapeutic it would be for the guys that are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. About our fourth outing we found out that what we were doing was more than just taking guys fishing. We saw some changes in people that were pretty amazing.”

“It means a lot just because it shows that people care about us,” said U.S. Army Specialist Juan Carlos Hernandez.

Hernandez has been kayak fishing for almost six months. In October 2009, he lost his right leg while serving in Afghanistan. His helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. The explosion and shrapnel destroyed his leg. There was no choice but to amputate.

“It’s one of those things that you’ll never forget,” said Hernandez. “It will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Hernandez says that being on the water and focusing on fishing, helps take his mind off his injury.

“It feels like you release a lot of stress just sitting out there especially when it gets really quiet and you’re actually catching fish,” said Hernandez. “It’s pretty fun.”

“There’s a lot of schools of thought out there, that putting someone out there by themselves, where they’re responsible for themselves has really helped them out and really helped folks out and reintegrate into society,” said Dolan.

This program has sparked interest across the country. There are currently 35 other chapters started by people just like Dolan who hope to transform the lives of these American heroes.

Watch exclusive video above about Heroes on the Water produced by DFW Reporting!

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