What a great year it was!From our visits to fly fishing shows to spread the word about our retreat programs, to presentations at local hospitals, cancer centers and support groups, then on to the retreats along the river banks of some wonderful trout waters, we had fun - all year long.

We’re grateful for the enduring and giving support of our awesome volunteers and to the vendors, guides, shops and enthusiastic communities that lent a helping hand, donations, and their time to make our retreat programs the best for the women cancer survivors who attend.

Here’s to the many friendships made along the river banks, the genuine support in our battles, the joys of high-fiving another year of a clean-slate of health, the knowledge that you’re not alone, the ability to step out into a new activity and setting - testing your faith and trust in others again, the thrill of watching a fish rise to your fly, the infectious laughter that heals, the authenticity of others, and the renewal of spirit that leads to the renewal of hope.

Who would have thought we’d have so much to cherish.

Here are some fun retreats stats to enjoy:

• 178 Participants
• 224 Volunteers
• 201 Trout caught and released
• 299 Trout long distance released
• 381 Flies lost (that we know about…)
• 122 Bags of ice used
• 2,497 Waters, sodas and juice
• 27 Fish kissed
• 4 Fisheries biologists - one that was an expert “wader”
• 41 New Trout Unlimited memberships
• 94 Makeovers and Healing Touch Sessions
• 18 Au Sable River body surfers
• 964,800+ Casts made
• 226,576+ Hugs shared
• 566,440+ Smiles brightening the world
• 150 Julie Gates’ Waldorf salads consumed
• Countless and Priceless - All the memories and laughter

And everyday, we’re remembering to Fish On!

As some of you are aware, we have been without a “professional” booth for use at the fishing shows that we attend. Thanks to one of our volunteers (Carolyn Rushlow) a company donated the metal frame for a booth. Now all we needed was something to cover it with and we would be set. Then, along came the great people from DRiFT.

While attending the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo Chicago last weekend, the DuPage Rivers Fly Tyers (DRiFT) walked by and offered to donate their old booth materials to us. They had recently upgraded their booth and were looking for a home for their old one. Mark Saros was certain that the covering fr om their old booth would fit our frame. He pulled it out of his storage bin and had it was waiting for us in the morning when we arrived at the show. We tested it out and, low and behold, it fit like a glove. And the colors work too.

It will debut at our booth at the Michigan Fly Fishing Expo on March 10th & 11th. Yippee!

DRIFT was one of several groups of fly tyers that tied special flies for our retreat participants to use this year.

Send them a note of thanks to P.O. Box 5028, Wheaton, IL 60189 or check out their website at www.dupageriversflytyers.org.

Thanks DRiFT!

Fish On!

Get ready for a raffle!

Your choice of a stunning silver fly fishing key chain direct from Tiffany’s (with the blue box as well), a slot at the famed Michigan Trout Unlimited Fly Fishing School in June at Ranch Rudolph or a few other special surprizes.

Tickets are $5.00 each and a limited number will be sold. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, stop by our booth at the show or send us an email request to info@reelingandhealing.org.

Winners do not need to be present to win.

Fish On!

Yep - We’ll be back again this year for the big show in Warren, MI at the Macomb County Community College. Reeling & Healing Midwest is planning to host a spectacular booth loaded with goodies and fun for everyone.

We will have our t-shirts - with new styles for women and men. There will be a raffle for a silver Tiffany fly fishing key chain, a slot at the famed Michigan Trout Unlimited School at Ranch Rudolph in June, and fun fly fishing gifts. There are plans for a special children’s fish search with prizes too.

In addition, we’re seeking fly donations for our retreat participants, as well as for Reel Recovery, Project Healing Waters, Fishing Has No Boundaries and a few other non-profit organizations that promote well-being through fly fishing. If you have flies to donate, whether trout, bass, steelhead or salmon, we can use them. We welcome usable fly boxes as well. Bring them to the show and drop them off at the booth.

We’re in need of volunteers to help set-up, tear-down and help out in the booth on Saturday and Sunday. Send us an email if you are interested in joining us. There will be a special hospitality suite on Friday and Saturday nights that you are welcome to attend. We’ve reserved a block of rooms at a special rate if you are interested in staying close to the show too.

In mid-February the famed Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo held its first show in Chicago! It was a raving success and enjoyed by all who attended and participated.

Tom Helgeson and his seasoned staff held their first Great Waters Expo a few years ago in the Twin Cities and made the decision to expand their efforts and provide another quality show for the local fly fishing community.

Beyond the typical fare and demonstrations, is the goal to educate the community beyond casting and fishing. Conservation education, fly tying, as well as programs for children and women were available for everyone.

One group tying flies (who donated several dozen to our cause) was the Chicago Fly Fishers. Zaty, Richie, Trish and the gang are quite fun and engaging.

Some of the vendors included Orvis Chicago, Feenstra Guide Services from Newaygo, MI, and Trout & Grouse from Northfield, IL.

Thanks to Tom, Reeling & Healing Midwest had a booth and was able to generate awareness of our programs. We had several indivudals stop by to request to attend, to volunter, to donate funds and flies. We received several dozen flies from local tyers that we will be able to share with our retreat participants as well as with Reel Recovery, Project Healing Waters and Fishing Has No Boundaries.

It was a great show. We look forward to attending again next year.

There I was, manning the booth with two wonderful gentlemen, Dave and Wally. They had just returned from a much needed break and now it was my turn.

I had decided to head into the main show arena and create the opportunity to connect with some of the vendors and guides who have supported us in the past years. Armed with business cards, I combed back my hair and made a run for it.

As I strolled into the arena, I noticed a friend with whom I hadn���t seen in quite some time, but always made an effort to ask about - whether his well-being or what he was currently involved in within the world of fly fishing. The past few years he had written a book, received a number of awards and was diligently fighting the big corporations who were buying up water rights throughout the Midwest. I was excited to see him and have the opportunity to catch-up and share our latest life stories.

Little did I know how his life was changing.

He was surrounded by others who had the same mission of connecting. I said, ���Come by my booth later���, gave him a hug and went on with my first mission. After completing my rounds and then stopping by to visit with the ���Bug Man���, Dean Hanson (awesome guy, fabulous exhibit and a cancer survivor) I made it back to the Reeling & Healing Midwest booth. Dave and Wally were proud to announce they had sold t-shirts, hats, and raffle tickets.

A little while later, my friend stopped by the booth. He���s 72 years old and was tired from all the activity at the show. I pulled up a chair for him and we started to share. I could tell by the look in his eyes that something was amiss. And as fast I recognized it, he blurted out, ���I have something to tell you. I haven���t told very many people. But my health is not well. I have lung cancer.��� I stood there numbed by his words, hopeful for him and focused to stay ���present��� and listen to his story.

He wasn���t the first person to share his cancer diagnosis with me, but hearing the words from him, having know him for a length of time, I couldn���t help but become very affected by the grim picture he was painting with his words. So affected, that I struggled with how to follow-up with him in the days after our meeting.

What follows are some of the words that I shared with him via email (he���s hard of hearing and we struggle with phone calls).

Here goes�Ķ

I���m sorry that you have cancer. I can���t state it any simpler than that - and there���s no sense in making it sound fluffy. Bottom line is that it sucks that you have it. It sucks what you���re going through. It just sucks. I thank you for sharing your story with me.

Please know that though I work with so many individuals who are diagnosed, battling, surviving and kicking cancer, the news always affects me differently - especially when it���s a person who has been in my life for a period of time. And especially someone like you who is such a beautiful, infectious and vital spirit. Dave and my prayers are with you and your family.

Last Fall, I was honored to be chosen by the Lance Armstrong Foundation to attend their First Inaugural Summit on Cancer Survivorship. I traveled to Austin and spent 3 days with Lance and a few hundred individuals who are trying to make the lives of cancer patients and survivors better. I encourage you to venture onto their website at www.livestrong.org. They provide all types of support and assistance.

Even if you���re not interested, please read the LAF Manifesto or watch the video. It inspires me to continue to help others in the fight against cancer. And I tell you, hanging with Lance was inspiring too. His goal is to find a cure and he���s hell-bent on achieving it.

I am first and foremost a teacher. I just happen to be one that uses fly fishing as a tool to help others reconnect their spirit back into the world around them with the help of God���s great and wonderful outdoors. In my 10 years of volunteering with the Reeling & Healing Midwest retreats, I have seen great healing, joy, love and hope culminate in everyone who attends. As you journey through your treatments, doctor visits, tests, bills, etc., don���t hesitate to make that time to take yourself back to the water - be it a lake, stream, river, pond. Knowing what I do know about you, I believe that���s where you find some peace. And though you may not believe it, being next to or in the water will help you heal - mental, emotionally and physically.

Just before dinner on the first day of a retreat, I coach everyone who attending for the first time on how to shout at the top of their lungs, ���FISH ON!��� I start out by saying that almost every fisherman I���ve fished with yells the call when they hook into a trout or fish. Then, I share that beyond the excited fisherman they will soon become in the river, is the spirit battling cancer. And just as Nike shouts the triumphant slogan of ���JUST DO IT���, and Lance Armstrong has filled the world with yellow and his fight song of ���LIVESTRONG���, Reeling & Healing Midwest has the deeper meaning of ���FISH ON!���

It is then that everyone gathers together and in unison, thunders out, ���FISH ON!��� And you can���t help but feel the power resonate from those words.

So my friend, keep ���FISHING ON!���

Fish On!

33 Tyers + Donations = Over 1,200 Flies

Read all about the event here