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Project Healing Waters holds a casting call in Riverton

Veterans are joining volunteers on the water.

BARKHAMSTED, Conn. — The Farmington River provided the scenic backdrop for a front and center event in Riverton. Project Healing Waters, which serves disabled veterans by using fly fishing as a vehicle of therapy, returned to the Riverton area, where veterans and volunteers teamed up for a day of fly fishing. 

Don LaChance, the program lead for the Connecticut chapter of Project Healing Waters said, “Project Healing Waters is a program that uses fly fishing, fly tying, and time in the water to help veterans with disabilities and challenges they have and that they face every day.”

Between veterans and volunteers, there were 31 participants in Riverton for the Thursday event. 

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Marcos Rico, who served in the United States Army for 31 years and now lives in Wethersfield said, “This is something that is really relaxing for me and it takes my mind off a lot of crap that doesn’t need to be on my mind.” 

David Walker, an Army veteran from Southington who was busy casting his line into the Farmington River, said, “It’s doesn’t really matter if I catch a good fish or not, it’s still a nice experience.”  

The program, based in Newington, began in Connecticut over a decade ago and it continues to touch the lives of veterans through fly fishing. LaChance, the program director added, “The guys that suffer from PTSD, what you see is they are calmer, they are focused and the camaraderie that comes with the group is just amazing.” 

To learn more about Project Healing Waters click here

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Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.comFollow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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