Fishing for Mission 22 is a 501(C)(3) which offers a therapeutic approach to help heal veterans through fishing while raising awareness to the 22+ we continue to lose to suicide every day in the United States. Since the Global War on Terror began in 2001, there have been over 7,000 combat related deaths, and in the same period, there have been over 120,000 Veteran Suicides. This is not only a public health crisis, but unacceptable. Only one percent of our Nation joins the armed forces and it’s the duty of the remaining 99 percent to help our veterans in crisis.
In order to fund therapeutic fishing programs, we host large fishing derbies and other fundraising events throughout the Cape, and now, we’re expanding to Western Massachusetts. The proceeds from events help fund Operation Tackle 22 and Common Ground 22 HealthCare Connect.
Operation Tackle 22 works with local veteran outreach centers, other transitional veteran nonprofits and veteran courts (Plymouth/Barnstable/Bristol) to pool applicants struggling with suicidal ideations, PTSD, addiction, TBI’s and all other hidden scars of war. Once selected, they are required to complete an eight course fishing program which includes 5 inshore fishing trips and three guided fishing charters run by Outcast Outfitter. The capstone to the program is a 55 hour retreat over 100 hundred miles offshore to the Canyons, an area off the continental shelf with a rich habitat of whales, sharks, tuna, big-eyed yellow fin and blue marlin. It’s a breath taking experience whether you like to fish or not!
After completing the program each veteran will receive a custom built FFTM22 themed rod crafted by mission partner gw Customs at a special banquet dinner in late fall. Common Ground 22 HealthCare Connect is the therapeutic side of our program and we now collaborate with New England Medical Group (Boston) and Lorenzi Health Care (Holyoke) to provide the best therapeutic fishing experience possible.
Click here to visit the website and learn more about the tournament!
