Fishing Event Provides Fun and Laughter for People with Disabilities

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Forty-seven anglers with disabilities enjoyed a morning of fishing and fun in the sun at the National Wild Turkey Federation's headquarters in Edgefield, S.C., on July 21.

Through the NWTF's Wheelin' Sportsmen outreach program, the anglers spent several hours at the NWTF's on-site pond catching catfish and posing for photos. Most of the participants traveled from Tri-Development Centers in Aiken and All-Star Buddies, a program through Walton Rehabilitation Hospital in Augusta, Ga.

Smiles and high-fives were a common sight as more than 30 fishing mentors from the U.S. Forest Service helped participants bait their hooks, cast and retrieve their catches.

"A lot of these participants wouldn't have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without the Wheelin' Sportsmen program," said Illana Burkhart, Wheelin' Sportsmen coordinator. "Most of the anglers face mental or physical challenges and depend on a helping hand to get outside and be active. The smiles on their faces when they catch a fish are what motivates us to host events like this."

Wheelin' Sportsmen provides people with disabilities opportunities to enjoy the outdoors through local chapter events throughout North America. Whether it's shooting, hunting, fishing or archery, there is no limit to the outdoor opportunities Wheelin' Sportsmen can offer people with disabilities who are eager to get outside and live an active lifestyle.

The NWTF is a nonprofit conservation organization that works daily to further its mission of conserving the wild turkey and the preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, spending more than $306 million to conserve 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.

The Federation works to increase interest in the outdoors by bringing new hunters and conservationists into the fold through outdoor education events and its outreach programs - Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES.