Recently, a famed fly shop in Illinois, TROUT and GROUSE decided to find a new home for their rental waders that had been hiding out in their stockroom. And that new home is with Reeling and Healing Midwest!

We’re delighted to have them - some barely used, stocking foot and boot foot, all shapes sizes and labels. Heck, they even threw in a couple pairs of wading boots! They’ll come in handy next year as we undergo an expansion of our programs and reach out to provide our retreats to more cancer survivors.

Thanks to Curt, Peter and Paul for thinking of us.

Trout and Grouse is located at 840 Willow Road (next to Whole Foods) in Northbrook, IL. Phone 847-480-0111

Knitters…….are you up for a challenge?!

Are your family and friends begging you not to send them any more home made items? Are you working on projects that take forever to complete? Are you looking for a way to support other women? Do I have a plan for you.

Get out your needles and start knitting socks. Remember how fast and easy it is to knit a pair of socks? A home made pair of socks say, you are cared about, you deserve some nurturing, you matter. If you are reading this blog, you are already aware of the amazing job Reeling & Healing Midwest does for cancer survivors. I am a cancer survivor and was an honored guest at a weekend event. The fliers suggest that you bring warm socks to use in the waders. I did not see many warm socks. Now it is up to us, the knitters of the world, to make sure these men and women have warm socks. Socks not just for fly-fishing, but for wearing during a long chemo session. Socks for wearing when you find yourself pounds thinner, with no hair (anywhere) for insulation. If everyone who knits just sends one pair of socks, imagine how many women and men we can make feel all snuggly and warm. Pass this message on. Email this address for mailing information: kltooman@chartermi.net.

I will keep you posted as the socks come mailing in. Together we can end the suffering of the naked toes of cancer survivors.

Socks on! Kathy

“We whole-heartily support Reeling & Healing Midwest,” stated Mark, a Headwaters Trout Unlimited member for six years.

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)

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!

33 Tyers + Donations = Over 1,200 Flies

Read all about the event here