SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong Talks With ‘Heroes On the Water’ Organizers

Heroes on the Water is dedicated to providing veterans services through recurring therapy

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong talks with retired U.S. Army Ranger Darryl Benton and retired Marine Corp. veteran Terry Davis about Heroes on the Water Space Coast Chapter. Heroes on the Water is a non-profit organization whose mission is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty personnel and veterans through kayak fishing.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong sat down with Darryl Benton and Terry Davis to talk about the Space Coast Chapter of Heroes on the Water, a non-profit charity designed to work with veterans, active-duty military personnel, first responders and their families.

Benton is a retired U.S. Army Ranger and served in the Florida National Guard and U.S. Army Active Reserve. Davis served in the U.S. Marines for more than 20 years.

Heroes on the Water, a  veterans charity, creates alternative therapeutic programs to serve veterans, active-duty military personnel, first responders and their families.

These experiential programs incorporate structured activities proven to improve the lives of these men and women. Each experience reduces the impact of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury while providing much-needed camaraderie and support.

The primary proven therapy utilized by Heroes on the Water is kayak fishing. Volunteer-led chapters around the United States hold events which are free for our nation’s heroes.

Recurring activities give these heroes and their families a lifelong social network with like-minded people.

No experience or equipment is needed, and kayak fishing is adaptive to those with disabilities. Our chapters in Australia and the U.K utilize the same proven model.

Founded in 2007, Heroes on the Water is dedicated to providing veterans services through recurring therapy and growing its volunteer chapter base. In 2018, the organization officially opened services to first responders and their families.

“Our programs are proven to be effective and provide heroes with a way to positively improve their lives, enhance their family dynamic, and impact their community,” said retired U.S. Army Ranger Darryl Benton.

The local chapter revolves around kayak fishing.

Benton said the veterans are provided with kayaks and they are shown how and where to fish from a kayak and are provided with guides to help in any way needed.

According to Benton, it’s about “relaxing and reconnecting with nature.”

There is such a need for a “transition” organization such as Heroes on the Water.

“It helps veterans to be around other veterans,” said Benton.

“They can talk to them and ask, hey – how did you crawl out of this hole and back to getting on with your life.”

Heroes on the Water is self-funded and donations can be made at their Facebook page HERE. Or, donations can be made directly to the national website, HeroesOntheWater.org and be sure to designate your donation to the Space Coast Chapter.

Similar Stories