Screen Shot 2015-02-24 at 2.21.36 PMMission

The mission of Reel Recovery is to help men in the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of the sport of fly-fishing, while providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences of cancer with others who share their stories.

Background

Reel Recovery was founded in 2003 by a group of avid fly-fishers, inspired by their friend’s ongoing battle with brain cancer. Witnessing first-hand the beneficial impact fly-fishing provided their friend, the group created Reel Recovery to provide the same opportunity for other men battling all forms of cancer.

Reel Recovery was brought to Texas in 2008 by Warren Wolf after he experienced a Colorado retreat in 2007 on the Frying Pan River. Warren and his life partner, Debbie and his close friend Tom worked diligently to find a site, raise the money, and recruit participants and volunteers for the first retreat. It was held November, 2008 at the Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne.  Warren succumbed to his cancer in May, 2011, but left a legacy that has grown from the foundation he created in Boerne on a November weekend 7 years ago.

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Accomplishments & Goals

Nationwide Reel Recovery has served over 2000 men in 187 retreats since the first retreat, June 2003.  (Our 2000th man attended the October 2014 Glen Rose, TX retreat)

Texas has held 13 retreats, serving 146 men in 7 years. (See what you started Warren!)

Texas has been instrumental in helping form chapters in Louisiana (2011) and in Warren’s home state of Oklahoma (2013).

Nationwide we want to serve another 1000 men in the next 3 years and with 28 retreats already scheduled for 2015 we are on our way.

Texas is proudly able to serve over 50 men in 2015 at 4 annual retreats (2 in Glen Rose, 1 in Boerne and our newest this fall in Navasota). This is six times as many men as served in the first retreat.

2015 Texas Retreats

2015 Spring: Glen Rose, TX (April 10-12); Boerne, TX (April 24-26)

2015 Fall: Navasota, TX (Oct. 9-11); Glen Rose, TX (Oct. 23-25)

Funding and Sources

All Reel Recovery retreats are Free to the men we serve. Each State Chapter is responsible for raising the necessary funds to support their retreats. The nominal cost is $700 per participant. Texas has been able to grow only because we have been fortunate to have a growing team of volunteers willing to staff retreats, serve as fishing buddies, help recruit participants and procure generous supporters. Doing the math you can see the budget has grown considerably from the first eight participants to over fifty.

Texas currently has two main fundraising events to provide up to 50% of our needs for our 4 TX retreats:

Chimy’s dinner and auction on June 14th in Fort Worth

Jon Henderson Memorial Classic Sporting Clays on August 22nd at Alpine Shooting Range, Fort Worth.

 

The balance of our funding comes from individuals, fly- fishing clubs, civic organizations, foundations, corporations, cancer clinics and special raffles.

We currently have a Quilt raffle which will end May 26th.

Information for Chimy’s, Jon Henderson Memorial Classic and the Quilt raffle is on our website: www.texasreelrecovery.org

 

For the Texas Chapter to protect what we have built and to continue serving men coping with cancer by putting a smile on their face and providing them with a life changing experience the momentum must continue. We need help in every area of our work.

How YOU can help

Awareness:  Reach out to your community to make it aware of Reel Recovery and its mission.

Volunteering of your time: Tie flys , presence at fly fishing events and various public heath events, advocates working with cancer clinics ( flyers, speak to support groups & manning tables to recruit participants), media support (flyers, web site & Facebook support, newsletters, articles etc.)

Fundraising: Help with fundraising events (organizing, time and procuring auction items), locating funding resources (corporations, foundations, etc.), reaching out to a civic organization you may belong to.

So if you are not currently a volunteer and want a very rewarding experience please visit http://reelrecovery.org/how-to-help/volunteer/   and apply. If you are currently a volunteer and you want more to do, please let me know.

If you are a man or know a man who has or has had cancer, please visit our website, http://reelrecovery.org/programs/application/   and consider applying or encourage your friend to apply to a retreat.

If you want to make a donation to Reel Recovery you can make the donation on line at: http://reelrecovery.org/how-to-help/donate/  . If you want it to be applied to the Texas Chapter, make sure you denote you want the donation to go to Texas. You can also mail a check for the Texas Chapter to: Reel Recovery, P.O. Box 192, Azle TX 79098.

We are grateful for the contributions we have received and are dependent upon continued support to enable us to provide our retreats to men coping with cancer. As Reel Recovery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax ID # 92-219334, donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

BE WELL! FISH ON!

 

Mike Emerson

Texas State Coordinator

mgemerson1944@gmail.com

817-894-7832

 

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