Non-Profit Holding Fishing Event For Military Vets On Chain-O-Lakes Sunday
(CBS) -- A non-profit organization that helps military veterans deal with post traumatic stress disorder is hosting an event tomorrow on the Chain-O-Lakes called, "Take a Vet Fishing."
"It came about with a couple guys sitting in a bar," says Don Aiken, who sits on the Take a Vet Fishing board.
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Jay Garstecki, a professional muskie fisherman, says he got to talking with an Army Ranger, Brett Bodette, about his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bodette, he says, is dealing with PTSD.
"It's kind of horrendous, so we basically talked about it and I said, what can we do, and he said, well, think about all those mornings when you're out on the water and how calm and serene it is and that's what these guys need when they come back to be able to decompress a little bit."
That was fours ago.
Since then, they've hosted Take a Vet Fishing events in various places.
Garstecki says research done in 2009 found that fishing can have a positive affect on those suffering from PTSD.
Tomorrow, they'll be on the Chain-O-Lakes. They'll gather at 7 a.m. the Thirsty Turtle Marina in Antioch.
They're expecting about 100 veterans. About 50 guides are donating their time and expertise.
Anyone interested in being part of the event, can find more information on the website, takeavetfishing.org.
