Fishing for Mission 22 offers a therapeutic approach to help heal veterans through fishing while raising awareness to the 22+ we continue to lose to suicide every day in the United States. Since the Global War on Terror began in 2001, there have been over 7,000 combat related deaths, and in the same period, there have been over 120,000 veteran suicides. This is not only a public health crisis, but unacceptable. Only one percent of our Nation joins the armed forces and it’s the duty of the remaining 99 percent to help our veterans in crisis.
In order to fund our therapeutic fishing programs, we host large fishing derbies and other fundraising events throughout the year. The proceeds from events help fund Operation Tackle 22 and Common Ground 22 HealthCare Connect. Operation Tackle 22 works with local veteran outreach centers and other transitional veteran nonprofits to pool applicants struggling with suicidal ideations, PTSD, addiction, TBI’s and all other hidden scars of war. Once selected, they are required to complete an eight-course fishing program which includes 5 inshore fishing trips and three guided fishing charters run by Outcast Outfitter. The capstone to the program is a 55-hour retreat over 100 hundred miles offshore to the Canyons, an area off the continental shelf with a rich habitat of whales, sharks, tuna, big-eyed yellow fin and blue marlin. It’s a breath-taking experience whether you like to fish or not!
After completing the program each veteran will receive a custom built FFTM22 themed rod crafted by mission partner gw Customs at a special banquet dinner in late fall. Common Ground 22 HealthCare Connect is the therapeutic side of our program and we now collaborate with New England Medical Group (Boston) and Lorenzi Health Care (Holyoke) to provide the best therapeutical fishing experience possible.
Please consider making a donation today.
"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
"Tonight, the thoughts were about how to end things, with a heavy emphasis on the how. The process of suicide isn't exactly easy. It takes preparation, scheduling, and a certain level-headedness to kill yourself. A person has to be ready for it. He has to make the necessary plans, take the necessary steps. And, most importantly, he has to not only feel like dying, but also like killing. And the two feelings couldn't be more different."
In October 2021, there were 18.0 million veterans in the United States, 8.4 million of whom were in the civilian labor force. Its estimated 4.9 million veterans, or 27 percent of the total, have a service-connected disability in the post-9/11 era.
Veteran suicide is one of the greatest crises of our time. Since Sept. 11, 2001, just over 30,000 veterans have died by suicide — four times more than the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans are at a much higher risk for homelessness, and many suffer from drug addiction and mental illness after separating. Many veterans sustained injuries in combat, while many veterans face the uncertainty of paying for housing and food every month. These issues, on top of the wounds from war, are taking our veterans at alarming rates every day!
Its estimated 22 veterans a day take their lives on average in this county. Veterans are 50% higher risk of suicide than their peers who have not served and by 2030, it’s estimated veteran suicides will be 23x higher than the number of post-9/11 combat deaths. We need to combat veteran suicides NOW!
Fishing for the Mission 22 is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 88-3576789
