Syria, VA – Injured and disabled veterans from across the country will gather in Syria, Virginia on April 25-26 to participate in the 9th Annual 2-Fly Tournament benefitting Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc.The pre-tournament dinner starts at 5pm on Saturday night under the stars in picturesque Madison County, Virginia. Bob Woodruff will serve as the keynote speaker for the dinner at Rose River Farm. While reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces for ABC’s “World News Tonight,” on Jan. 29, 2006, Bob was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq. In a miraculous recovery, just 13 months later, Bob returned to ABC News with “To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports.” Since then, he has reported from around the globe on a variety of subjects. He was honored with a Peabody Award for his reporting on traumatic brain injury. In his best-selling memoir, In an Instant, co-authored with his wife Lee, he shares stories about the fragility of life, the strength of family, and the bravery of those who helped save him. The Woodruff family established the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) to raise money to assist injured service members, veterans and their families. Read more
Captain Eivind O. Forseth, US Army (ret) will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening, introducing Woodruff and the three veteran participants who will share their journeys of recovery with fellow veterans, fly fishing professionals, volunteers, and supporters on Saturday night. Capt. Forseth was severely wounded as a result of a blast from an Improvised Explosive Device in Mosul, Iraq in 2005. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds sustained in combat. He attributes PHWFF with helping him overcome his disability by learning to fly fish and tie flies adaptively. As he and his family will attest, PHWFF has been instrumental to his emotional and physical recovery. He now serves as the President of the PHWFF Veterans Advisory Council. Read more
Current participants in the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program, and alumni, will also be on hand throughout the weekend to discuss the challenges facing today’s service members, both physical and emotional, and the impact PHWFF has had on their recovery and transition.
The tournament competition kicks off at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning featuring PHWFF participants from across the nation. Military/veteran participants will be partnered with a professional fly fishing guide from among the most notable names in the sport.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. The 2-Fly Tournament is the organization’s flagship event to raise awareness and funding for its 180 programs in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. More information can be found at www.projecthealingwaters.org
Saturday night dinner and Sunday lunch will be provided to pre-registered press