NEWS & STORIES
The Mossy Creek Invitational brings community and camaraderie to disabled veterans
On Saturday June 1, 2019 over $195,000 was raised to support the 219 Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing programs nationwide and the injured and disabled veterans they serve in their communities.
Bridgewater, Virginia – June 1, 2019 – Veterans, volunteers, and supporters gathered on the picturesque banks of Virginia’s Mossy Creek for an annual fly-fishing tournament held in support of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc (PHWFF). The Mossy Creek Invitational (MCI) has been held in Bridgewater, VA since 2008. On Saturday June 1, 2019 MCI raised over $195,000 to support the 219 PHWFF Programs nationwide and the injured and disabled veterans they serve in their local communities.
Now in its 12th year, the event provided 15 disabled military personnel and disabled veterans with a fun fly-fishing competition in which they were paired with a sponsor and professional fly-fishing guide for a memorable day of angling, community and camaraderie.
Bob Fitch, the Tournament Host and Chairman of the PHWFF Board of Trustees said “With an outpouring of love and compassion from our local community and through the generosity of our donors from all over the country we were able to once again provide an opportunity for our deserving servicemen and women to heal. It was an amazing Mossy Creek Invitational.”
The patriotic support of this special event came from individuals and companies alike. National sponsors Golden Corral, The Jeff and Julie Kinney Foundation, Lockheed Martin, MDB Partners, MICA, Microsoft, Smithfield Foods, and local businesses such as Steven Toyota, Dynamic Aviation, Momentum Earthworks, Turtle Pond Foundation, Cox Automotive and Mossy Creek Fly Fishing embraced the disabled veterans served by PHWFF through their sponsorship of the event. It is this embrace, this community, and the unconditional commitment of those who support the Mossy Creek Invitational that PHWFF can continue bringing their unique form of therapy to those who have made great sacrifices in the service of our nation
PHWFF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings. The Mossy Creek Invitational is one of the organization’s premier events aimed at raising awareness and funding for the organization’s 219 programs.
U.S. Airforce veteran Raymond Collette, who won the tournament with sponsor Hans Harman of Momentum Earthworks, encapsulated the day when he said, “(It was) such an amazing experience and I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Many friendships were made this weekend and for many (of us) it was a life changing experience. Huge thank you to everyone who made this happen.”
For over a decade PHWFF has focused on healing those who serve, and the Mossy Creek Invitational has continued providing disabled veterans with the support they need on their journeys to physical and emotional recovery by raising over $2 million for the organization since its inception in 2008.