Message from the President of U.S. Veterans' Rowing & Kayaking organization
Dear Reader,
I was seeking a new exciting form of healthy physical activity which was both healing and therapeutic and that could be enjoyed by everyone so I created the Veterans' Rowing & Kayaking program to work with the West Haven VA Healthcare population. Most of our Veterans are disabled and are receiving healthcare services from the VA Hospital. These include, but are not limited to the following: PTSD, TBI, Severe Depression, Substance Abuse, and Amputees or wounded warriors returning home from combat service.
I thought of my own personal struggles and how I overcame clinical depression by moving away from prescribed medications which were toxic to my body and replacing it with physical activities that produced natural endorphins by my body. This physical activity completely rejuvenated me with extremely positive energy and mood and I was eventually able to be weaned off of all my medications. My therapeutic healing and wellness is attributable to my desire to take control of my life and to seek out alternative methods to improve my health which also has a strong spiritual component to it.
One of our most successful and popular programs is Recreational Therapy which is "evidence-based" and clinically proven to help alleviate symptoms associated with all of the above illnesses. It all starts with referrals that we get for client Veterans by their primary care physicians or clinicians through the VA Healthcare System who conduct a screening for appropriateness of the client Veteran into our programs. We also conduct an interview and explain the program to the Veterans prior to them being invited to attend one of our activity sessions to see if they like the program and willingness to commit to attend regularly. If they agree to attend regularly for the term of the program which runs from May 1st through November 11th every Saturday, we then request that they complete a medical assessment form with questions designed to gauge their clinical symptoms (a snapshot of where they are today before they begin our program). At the end of the program, we ask them to retake the same clinical assessment form so that we can evaluate any improvements in their medical symptoms.
Based on the demand for participation by VA client referrals and word-of-mouth from Veteran to Veteran, we have more than doubled our program participation from our first year of operation in 2013. We are now actively seeking other boathouse sponsors regionally in the following states: RI, MA, ME, NH and VT. We want to replicate our success with our other 501(c)3 community boathouse partners, where they have all the equipment and support staff coupled with a very beautiful boathouse to assist us each weekend.
Our goal is to spread this program from VA facilities across the country and to partner with the VA Healthcare System and other non-profit organizations that share our commitment to improve the quality of recreation therapy delivery to client Veterans that focuses on mind, body and spirituality in the healing process of recovery. It is our desire that you join us in our mission to help all our Veterans who have served our county so proudly and honorably.
May God continue to bless our country and all our men & women who have served or are still serving. Thank you for your anticipated support.
Very Best,
Paul Stephen Varszegi
President & Founder
I was seeking a new exciting form of healthy physical activity which was both healing and therapeutic and that could be enjoyed by everyone so I created the Veterans' Rowing & Kayaking program to work with the West Haven VA Healthcare population. Most of our Veterans are disabled and are receiving healthcare services from the VA Hospital. These include, but are not limited to the following: PTSD, TBI, Severe Depression, Substance Abuse, and Amputees or wounded warriors returning home from combat service.
I thought of my own personal struggles and how I overcame clinical depression by moving away from prescribed medications which were toxic to my body and replacing it with physical activities that produced natural endorphins by my body. This physical activity completely rejuvenated me with extremely positive energy and mood and I was eventually able to be weaned off of all my medications. My therapeutic healing and wellness is attributable to my desire to take control of my life and to seek out alternative methods to improve my health which also has a strong spiritual component to it.
One of our most successful and popular programs is Recreational Therapy which is "evidence-based" and clinically proven to help alleviate symptoms associated with all of the above illnesses. It all starts with referrals that we get for client Veterans by their primary care physicians or clinicians through the VA Healthcare System who conduct a screening for appropriateness of the client Veteran into our programs. We also conduct an interview and explain the program to the Veterans prior to them being invited to attend one of our activity sessions to see if they like the program and willingness to commit to attend regularly. If they agree to attend regularly for the term of the program which runs from May 1st through November 11th every Saturday, we then request that they complete a medical assessment form with questions designed to gauge their clinical symptoms (a snapshot of where they are today before they begin our program). At the end of the program, we ask them to retake the same clinical assessment form so that we can evaluate any improvements in their medical symptoms.
Based on the demand for participation by VA client referrals and word-of-mouth from Veteran to Veteran, we have more than doubled our program participation from our first year of operation in 2013. We are now actively seeking other boathouse sponsors regionally in the following states: RI, MA, ME, NH and VT. We want to replicate our success with our other 501(c)3 community boathouse partners, where they have all the equipment and support staff coupled with a very beautiful boathouse to assist us each weekend.
Our goal is to spread this program from VA facilities across the country and to partner with the VA Healthcare System and other non-profit organizations that share our commitment to improve the quality of recreation therapy delivery to client Veterans that focuses on mind, body and spirituality in the healing process of recovery. It is our desire that you join us in our mission to help all our Veterans who have served our county so proudly and honorably.
May God continue to bless our country and all our men & women who have served or are still serving. Thank you for your anticipated support.
Very Best,
Paul Stephen Varszegi
President & Founder