Terry Sympson of Jackson Hill Marina has always been a big surrporter of providing fishing opportunities for our veterans. Receently Outdoor Freedom, which he is part of, welcomed Richard Thompson and family to Jackson Hill.
Terry reported that he first met Richard in 2006 when he first reopened Jackson Hill. Richard is a Navy Veteran who suffered catastrophic injuries that left him a paraplegic to begin the next phase of his life. "While we can only imagine the emotional and physical rehab facing him, Richard has overcome it all because of his emotional strength, the love and support of his family and his love of the outdoors, especially fishing."
Several years previous Sympson met another challenged sportsman, Jay Rice, who despite his challenges learned to fish because of his fathers determination, redneck ingenuity and love for his son. With limited arm mobility Jay's dad created an electric fishing system using parts from Walmart. "Jay gave me one of the rods that his dad had created and this weekend I gave it to Richard to try out. The next morning Richard was banging on the front door. When I opened it he just looked at me and said 'Game Changer'".
In the world of adaptive outdoor equipment there was little available until the last few years and while there is some great technology that allow challenged sports enthusiasts to hunt, fish, kayak, hike and participate in outdoor activities it is at a high cost.
"We have seen that most families that have a child or family member who is disabled do not have the ability to buy a $1,000 worth of fishing equipment to go out and jerk some perch. We have decided to work on an adaptive fishing kit that can be produced with very little cost and assembled by almost anyone (like me). Stay tuned."
Sympson can be reached at Jackson Hill Marina on Lake Sam Rayburn