One of the video production teams, AEG Media was a finalist. Their present goal is to be the leader in bringing new fly fishing adventure to the big screen. They will be rolling out their 2008 Fly Fishing Film Tour soon at a theater near you. With regards to the film they’ve stated, “If you fly fish you are going to be blown away, if you don’t fly fish you are going to be inspired.” Check out their site for more info.

The foundation’s website is simple and filled with letters and articles from Block, important links for survivors and caregivers and how you can help educate and promote advocacy too. Visit www.blochcancer.org to learn more and perhaps be inspired by Richard’s story and words of positive attitude and walking the road to recovery and beyond.

The show airs on Sundays and is produced by Vital Options International.�� Visit www.vitaloptions.org to view stations near you that broadcast this show. You may listen online or by radio.

We don’t want to be a burden. But those who love you want to do anything they can to help you. Please let them show you how much you are loved. Your whole life changes in many different ways. The one thing to remember is to take “One day at a time!”

You are never alone through this battle. God is with you every step of the way.

-Kim O.

From entomology, heron watching and telling kayakers that they were three miles from the landing to making new friends, learning to cast a fly rod and sharing joy and pains of our journeys, it was a memorable time for all. Even the Bread Hole was amazing.

It was my third year of assisting at the retreat. And though the program remains the same, the retreat, because of the men who attend, is always different.

This year was very different for me due to the fact that my father had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. At my request, my father had taken time off from his busy work scheduled and volunteered at the 2005 & 2006 men’s retreats as a River Buddy/Guide. This year he called me to ask if he could volunteer again on the river. His mission: to not only help others, but share his new diagnosis, compare notes from a different perspective and to give/receive support from a different level than he had ever anticipated.

Needless-to-say, the process of watching my father share with the participants and volunteers was heartwarming. I am thankful to all who reached out to support him, offered their good words, wisdom and prayers. And for their hugs as well.

Of all my treasured memories from my time at the retreat, I am thankful for the laughter shared with “Bob with One O” on the river dock on our final day. Though we hardly fished, we laughed and told stories that had our sides aching. Doing that together, surrounded by nature and sunshine, hearing the echoes of the laughter – nothing but joy. It felt grand to have the weight of the unknown lifted from shoulders and hearts.

And to my dear roommate, Nurse Navin…I commend you on your stellar perfection Loops, Double-Surgeon Knots and Nail Knots. Our leaders rocked!

In closing, I extend the Reel Recovery blessing to all…

BE WELL, FISH ON!

Relay For Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to help support the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. It also helps people who are walking this cancer journey to deal with it���s ups and downs and what is available in our community for them.

I invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year���s event. Survivors��� Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony are on Friday night, June 1. On Saturday, June 2, there will be many activities occuring for you to join in on. We hope to see you there!

JoAnn (6 year survivor-breast cancer)
���Breast Friends��� Team Capt.
www.acsevents.org/relay/muskegon/mi

The women attending are cancer survivors and range in age from 32 to 70 years old. Some have fished once, others have been attending retreats for over six years. No matter their experience level, they are young at heart and come together knowing they’ll have a wonderful time.

The weather forecast for the weekend is partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 40 degrees in the morning up to the high 60′s and 70′s by mid-day. Excellent conditions for a variety of hatches – assorted caddis, small stone flies and lookout – BWO and Hendricksons should be popping too.

We’ll be armed with plenty of flies thanks to the many tyers and fly fishers who donated over 100 dozen to us for use this season.

The grocery list is completed, equipment is ready to be christened in the river for the first time this year and the enthusiasm of the women who will be attending is going each day.

Follow our retreat experience over the next few days as we blog riverside at our retreat location.

Fish On!

In 2006, the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which covers the counties of Otsego, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Alpena and Montmorency raised funds to support Reeling & Healing Midwest retreats and a Reel Recovery retreat in Michigan. A few of their members volunteered, recruited participants and in-kind donations (one even baked pies!).

Complimentary Trout Unlimited memberships were offered to a number of our retreat participants by Headwaters with the hope to assist in continuing their fly fishing education, as well as river restoration and conservation education. Not one retreat participant turned down the offer.

“This year, we dedicated the 50/50 drawing at our Annual Banquet to Reeling & Healing Midwest,” shared John Walters, President of the organization, “with a promise to match the amount with a donation to Reel Recovery as well.” Thanks to the assistance of Sue Walters and Sharon Greanya, the 50/50 drawing was an amazing success. This year’s drawing awarded $765.00 to our upcoming summer retreat programs.

Thank you to all who participated, to the Headwaters TU, to everyone who purchased a 50/50 Raffle ticket and to all of you who believe in our efforts and organization.

Special thanks to John & Sue Walters for championing our cause, their dedicated support, never-ending positive attitudes, and expert volunteerism.

(Click here to learn more about Headwaters TU)

And there she is now, diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in her bones.

I met Elizabeth last fall at the Lance Armstrong Foundation���s Inaugural Summit on Cancer Survivorship. She was the last speaker to take the stage, share her story, share her inspiration, share her future goals, share how her life had changed for her family and herself, and more.

The portions of her speech I will never forget are those that were peppered with the letters written to her from individuals – cancer survivors and caregivers – whom she had never met. The anonymous writers had reached out to her to share simple thoughts and stories of their journey, acknowledge her courage and hope, to bolster her resolve and encourage her to fight, to share their prayers with her, and most importantly, to let her know that she wasn’t alone on her journey.

Those words produced flashbacks of the women I have met at our retreats – who have journeyed through their battle and survivorship – and not alone. Each of them, on their own terms, found purpose in sharing their stories, sharing their hope and their choices with those they met along the way – on and off the river. Their outreach and comfort prevail onward and are there whenever called forth.

I have lost friends who, having battled their cancer the first time and claiming a triumphant win, were later diagnosed with more havoc within their bodies. These men and women continued on their own way – some by beating the disease once again, some by making the best of their last days, some by subjecting themselves to clinical trials, some by knowing after a span of months or years, that it was time to stop taking the pain killers and the medication – that the disease had become extremely relentless and wasn’t going to loosen its hold – ever. Each has been a hero, an inspiration. Each has been courageous and beautiful. Each is similar to Elizabeth.

Who are we to question what their choices should be? With 3 out of 4 families affected by cancer in our nation, with the possibility of 1 out of 2 men contracting cancer in their lifetime, and 1 out of 3 women contracting it as well, don’t you think they should be making their own decisions and living their life on their own terms?

I applaud Elizabeth for sharing her story and undergoing the scrutiny from the public and media. At times our media seems to be as relentless as cancer. However, the good to come from her telling/sharing her story is that our community is becoming more aware of the havoc that cancer does cause, the good that is being done to prolong life and survivorship, and hopefully it will open new doors, understanding and research so we can rid the world of cancer altogether.

And as I applaud Elizabeth, I applaud all the survivors, caregivers and advocates I know, and have known, who share their stories, reach out to lend a hand, give support to the best of their abilities, and encourage hope and life on their own terms.

Fish On!

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. Read more…