At its Riverbank headquarters, American Veterans First officials recently announced the date for the second annual Sail to Recovery program, Take A Veteran Sailing.
“From the statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately 83,000 veterans live in The Greater Central Valley and Central Foothills. It is because of this that American Veterans First and Stockton Sailing Club have partnered with their expertise to provide effective sailing therapy for Veteran and First Responder communities,” said Duke Cooper, CEO at American Veterans First. “The sailing therapy is similar in concept to veterans working with horses or being exposed to a stressful environment where they can show a success. Sailing brings mental relief to our veterans and first responders. There is definitively no doubt that sailing heals and we are proud to say that we contribute to this healing process.”
The Second Annual Sail to Recovery Take A Veteran Sailing, sailing for health and well-being, is set for Saturday, Sept. 22 from noon to 5 p.m.
Open to all veterans, active duty, first responders, and families who support them.
Host site is the Stockton Sailing Club, 4980 Buckley Cove Way, Stockton.
A late lunch of burgers, chips, and refreshments at a cost of $10 will be served around 3:30 pm.
Space is limited. Preregistration is required. For questions or more information about this program event, contact program officials at sailtorecovery@gmail.com.
This program is made possible by American Veterans First, Stockton Sailing Club and a number of generous sponsors.
“Even though at times it can be seen as extreme, this sailing activity is not dangerous. Taking veterans sailing provides an often new and definitively liberating experience. Veterans are exposed to new sounds, new feelings, new or renewed social interaction and new types of challenges,” said Kevin Fox, Sail to Recovery program director and Board President at American Veterans First. “Sailing at Stockton Sailing Club and being supported by others while on a sailboat on the San Joaquin River Deep Water Channel at the Port of Stockton exposes our veterans to positive and constructive stress. It forces each veteran to work with other unfamiliar veterans to make a team that gets the boat moving.”
American Veterans First is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
