On April 13, 2007, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Austin was a passenger in a vehicle hit simultaneously by two roadside bombs. Like many soldiers who experienced the horror of battle, pushing away others became his way of life, thinking he was alone in a world that didn’t care.
He bought a shotgun, wrote a letter apologizing, and even picked the day his life — and pain — would end.
Then, his phone rang and a voice on the other end said, “Hey, I got your name from someone who said you might need a little help. I need a little help, too, so why don’t you meet me tomorrow and let’s go kayak fishing.”
That was Jason’s first interaction with Heroes on the Water and the day his life began to turn around.
“I’m here today because somebody had a vision of putting veterans in little plastic boats and shoving them out in the water for the day,” Jason said. “Now, it’s my mission to reach out to everybody and let them know they are not alone.”
Jason is now a national volunteer program coordinator with the nonprofit HOW, supporting volunteer-led chapters across the country. He is passionate about spreading the word so that folks who are where he was know there is an organization out there to provide an opportunity to heal.
Founded in 2007, HOW provides recreational wellness experiences. Its primary modality is kayak fishing, which it states has proven cognitive and emotional benefits.
Its programs incorporate free structured activities in a pressure-free environment, creating opportunities for community building and personal healing. Recurring activities provide participants with consistent access to healing support and involvement in a community of people with shared experiences.
While the primary address remains in Allen, the organization has grown nationwide with over 50 chapters and nine therapeutic programs. In North Texas, Fort Worth-Dallas and Brazos River Valley chapters have been active in engaging veterans and first responders since the start.The core activities at HOW events — kayaking and fishing — are therapeutic by nature, but the organization offers more structured programs specifically designed to address the physical and mental health of […]
Heroes struggling with PTSD find a calming and therapeutic experience on the water
