Jackson Hill Marina hosted its first guests under a new program that is designed to help Gold Star families, combat veterans and disabled lady veterans in trauma recovery and hospice care programs. The program called Camp Gold Star in partnership with Wounded Heroes of Texas (WHOT) another Texas public charity that work to bring veterans and their families to the healing arms and peace of mind that only Mother Nature can give them.
Chuck and Sandy Perry founders of WHOT have worked with groups of Veterans who may be in a foster home program, wheelchair bound veterans, and veterans who are in hospice care to enjoy the great outdoors.
Cody and Becky Prichard along with their 10 year old son Zane were treated to three days of fishing, great food and relaxation immersed in the tranquil beauty of Deep East Texas and Sam Rayburn Lake.
The family was treated to home cooked meals and fishing on the Patriots Challenge pontoon boat with guide Donnis Adams himself a Vietnam veteran and volunteer always willing to help out a Vet.
Forty-one year old Cody Prichard is an Army Veteran of 21 years who served our Country in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. During his time in combat he sustained a traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress before being involuntarily retired. Shortly after his retirement Cody was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. His wife Becky is still an active military Army SSG as a heavy equipment mechanic. The two met in Iraq and married while stationed in the Middle East.
In addition to their son Zane they also have an eighteen year old daughter back home in Lubbock.
"The hardest thing for families under this level of stress is just to be normal when normal seems impossible" said Chuck Perry of WHOT. "To simply getaway and spend time in nature has the ability to flip the switch from depression to optimism and restore a promise for tomorrow to someone struggling to find peace of mind".
Camp Gold Star is a program of Outdoor Freedom Network a public charity founded by Terry and Connie Sympson of Jackson Hill Marina that operate many fishing related programs and events including the Patriots Challenge Fishing Tournament Series to help raise money to host military members past and present. All profit made at these weekend series tournaments directly benefit military members, their families and other worthy causes in the Sam Rayburn lake area.
For more information about programs and events go to www.outdoorfreedom.net or call Terry Sympson at 936-872-9266. OFN is the recipient of the 2015 American Legions National Award for "Enhancing the lives of the Disabled".
For more information about Wounded Heroes of Texas you can contact Chuck Perry at 682-325 9468 or go to www.woundedheroesoftexas.org
