GILBERTSVILLE – The waters of Kentucky Lake see thousands of boats launch this time of year from shore to shore, but this past weekend, Kentucky Dam Village hosted some very special guests.
From helping to provide much needed medical research to assisting in career transitions, the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization has worked for the past seven decades to change lives and build brighter futures for seriously injured military heroes.
The organization was founded by a band of service members who returned from World War II with spinal cord injuries – and according to information included in the group’s mission statement, returned to a grateful nation, but also a world offering few solutions to the challenges they faced.
The group formed the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization – dedicated to serving the needs of veterans, funding much needed medical research and lobbying for the civil rights of soldiers with disabilities. Since then, the organization has grown to include 34 chapters representing thousands of veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
One very successful component of the organization has been creating adaptive sporting and recreational opportunities for veterans. Athletic activities are proven to have therapeutic benefits on physical, mental, and social well-being.
In addition, the PVA reports that adaptive sports and recreational activities have been shown to help alleviate or lessen secondary infections, depression and other conditions that individuals with spinal cord injury are more prone to experience.
One such sporting opportunity offered through the PVA is bass fishing. The Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Tour consists of seven two-day tournaments, which are held at various locations around the country. Each tournament consists of an open/team competition for those anglers who wish to fish from a boat and a Bank Competition for those who prefer to fish from shore.
Disabled anglers in the open/team competition are paired with able-bodied boat partners for the two-day event. On day one, only the disabled anglers compete for significant prizes. On day two, the paired anglers compete as a team for cash prizes.
Boat partners serve as coaches and help find fishing locations and choose baits. Disabled anglers in the bank competition are paired with volunteers who assist them in whatever they cannot do themselves while fishing.
Although only the anglers with disabilities fish in the open competition, awards and prizes are given to both anglers and boat partners. Prizes are awarded based on the total weight of the five heaviest fish on each day’s tournament.
The tour made its way from Kissimee, Fla. in March up to Gilbertsville, Ky. this past weekend. The PVA Bass Tour heads to Richmond, Va. next month.
Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, fishermen took to Kentucky Lake where day one totals indicated they had already caught nearly 80 pounds of fish, with the biggest bass weighing in at 4.32 pounds. Winners of the tournament have not yet been posted, however we will update when that information becomes available.
Fishermen came into Gilbertsville earlier this week where they enjoyed dinner at Catfish Kitchen before participating in opening events at Kentucky Dam Village on Friday. Members of the Marshall County Rescue Squad were on hand bright and early Saturday morning when the boats lined up to hit the lake.
Some special assistance was provided to ensure all participants were safely loaded before embarking on a full day of fishing. Squad members assisted both days of the tournament. Of helping with this event, MCRS Chief Curt Curtner says it is an honor to be able to enjoy the fellowship with all who attend and notes it is an honor to assist and give back to those who have so bravely served their country.
In 2014 alone, the Paralyzed Veterans of America:
- Provided services to more than 60,000 veterans and their families nationwide.
- Secured more than $290 million in new benefit awards and ancillary benefits, and more than $1 billion in total benefits secured—new, retroactive and recurring awards—for all clients.
- Expanded outreach to veterans’ caregivers, which included advocacy within VA facilities, benefits and claims assistance and vocational resources.
- Opened its eighth Operation PAVE (Paving Access for Veterans Employment) office in Chicago to provide vocational services to veterans, their families and caregivers in the region.
- Expanded its sports programs to include boccia and is exploring other exciting sports, such as wheelchair lacrosse.
- Hosted more than 600 health care professionals at its annual health care Summit, one of the world’s leading conferences in the specialized field of spinal cord injury and disease care.
All Paralyzed Veterans programs and services are provided free of charge to veterans and their families.
To donate, CLICK HERE.