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Creation of Project Healing Waters is a fairly simple story.

Capt. Ed Nicholson retired from Navy service in fairly good health, but four years ago he needed a surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During his recovery he observed soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with losses of arms and legs, vision and hearing, all sorts of disability. He wanted to do something. Then he thought of his true sporting love: fly fishing.

The result is a nonprofit group that plans fishing trips for patients from 19 Veterans Administration hospitals and counting all across the nation.

On the Web site, projecthealingwaters.org, a testimonial comes from Brian Mancini. He does not state his branch of military service, or describe his injury or wound. He simply explains that he had been receiving treatment at Walter Reed for nine months when he joined an excursion.

"This was my first time fly fishing, and I just wanted to say through this experience you have made me a fly fisher for life," Mancini writes. "The generosity and kindness of the people affiliated with this organization was overwhelming. There is a healing that no doctor or medical professional can prescribe that will replace the healing of the heart and mind I experienced on this trip."

He adds: "Not only have you welcomed me, but you welcomed my wife (Ashley) and made a fly
fisher out of her. Thank you for an incredible experience and I look forward to future experiences with this outstanding organization."

Nicholson didn't start with huge ideas. He chatted up a few Walter Reed patients, teaching how to tie flys and how to cast into streams. Gradually he saw the potential. His sales pitches to Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers drew positive responses, and he now has more than 20 sponsors.

He emphasizes, as Brian Mancini testifies, that the intent of accessible fly fishing goes beyond luring some prize catches. He speaks of "emotional and physical therapy." He wants patients with a disability to do all that they can for themselves, but volunteers always are on hand. On some occasions, so are outdoor grill cooks and local musicians.

Volunteers who are financially able contribute money as well for Project Healing Waters, which relies entirely on private donations.

National headquarters is in Washington, D.C., with an email address of admin@projecthealingwaters.org. However, there also are eight regional outposts. Instead of using "admin" at the start, options are Mid-Atlantic, New England, Northeast, Midwest, Southern, Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Northwest.

The address for Project Healing Waters is P.O. Box 695, La Plata, MD 20646. The phone number is (301) 399-7396. Contributions are tax deductible.

Sources:
www.projecthealingwaters.org/html/press/manciniletter.html
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/10/AR2008051002116.html
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=8996447

See Michael Thompson's Profile on Disaboom
See Michael Thompson's Profile on Associated Content

Read more:
For more sports programs and opportunities for veterans with disabilities, see Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project and National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

For a history of sports for veterans with disabilities, see Wounded Warriors and Advances in Adaptive Sport.