Trout Unlimited will host the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) at Venue 252 in Eugene, Oregon, on February 23, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit Rivers of Recovery, a non-profit organization serving combat veterans through rehabilitative fly fishing adventures.
The event includes a happy hour reception with beer from Ninkasi Brewing, a delicious dinner from Venue 252, screening of the critically acclaimed 2019 Fly Fishing Film Tour (think Warren Miller ski film, but with fly rods), and a raffle of valuable outdoor equipment and guided trips. Tickets are $50 per person or $40 for veterans and students, and are available at Caddis Fly Shop (168 W 6th Ave, Eugene) or online at http://FlyMovie4Vets.eventbrite.com.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how Rivers of Recovery is changing lives through fly fishing, and to meet some of the program’s participants, true American heroes.
Through fly fishing, the Rivers of Recovery program combines outdoor recreational activities with instruction on self-treatment to empower veterans to live a life that is no longer restricted by psychological or physical disabilities.
“Glorious Bastards” Australia – Christiaan Pretorius
Through philanthropic contributions and events like this one, Rivers of Recovery trips are free to the participant, with $2,500 covering airfare, lodging, guiding/instruction, meals, and research study. Each Rivers of Recovery trip hosts six to ten combat veterans on a four-day, science-based program that focuses on confidence-building, outdoor activities, and talk therapy in a relaxed, positive environment.
It’s a program that’s directly affected the lives of many U.S. military veterans, including…
- Jose Jauregui, U.S. Army, A 2/17 Field Artillery. Jose is the sole survivor of a 122-mm rocket attack that struck his howitzer near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Jose sustained 3rd degree burns over 75% of his body, lost most of his fingers on his left hand and most use of the right. Given just a 3% chance of living, after nearly a year in the hospital and more than 70 surgeries, he beat the odds and works with Rivers of Recovery to reach more combat veterans.
- Derek McGinnis, U.S. Navy, Hospital Corpsman. Derek was injured in 2004’s Operation Phantom Fury, losing his leg in battle as well as sustaining a traumatic brain injury and multiple shrapnel wounds. Today Derek serves as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, overseeing emergent and transitional housing grantees for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is a nationally recognized speaker on pain management, post traumatic growth, and therapies affecting veterans and their families. He is also the author of “Exit Wounds, a Survival Guide for Pain Management.”
- Gunny Reyes, U.S. Marines, Gunnery Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant and acting Platoon Commander for Weapons Platoon. One of the first Rivers of Recovery participants, Gunny is now a Rivers of Recovery Board member, a full-time Veteran Outreach Program Specialist/Counseling Technician at the Modesto Vet Center and a volunteer in Redding, California.
