Every year Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CMCTU) raises funds
for the chapter’s cold-water restoration, conservation and education programs
through an annual Rod Raffle. This year’s raffle was the chapter’s 6th annual
and was a great opportunity for someone to win a prize package valued at $1,500
through the purchase of a $5.00 ticket.
As with all annual raffles, Colorado Springs’ local fly shops, Angler’s Covey, Peak
Fly Shop, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Ghillies Hackle and Tackle, donated
the prizes and thus contributed to helping CMCTU with its mission to: Conserve,
Protect and Restore
cold-waters resources and watersheds in the Pikes Peak area and beyond.
This year’s winning ticket was drawn at CMCTU’s 3rd Annual Conservation Auction on
May 25th. After a great night of fast and furious bidding action; the night ended with
a CMCTU member drawing a single ticket from our infamous “raffle bucket.” I had
the privilege of reading off the name…Ryan Coulson.
Typically the crowd on hand gives a hoot, holler and hearty applause for the
winner, but, this year, I was shocked to hear and see a few members shout
and jump up as if they had won the raffle. I wasn’t sure what was happening! I
turned to Director at Large Jim Williams and asked; “What’s going on? Why all the
shouting?” Jim smiled and replied; “He’s one of ours! He’s one of our soldiers in
Project Healing Waters!”
Ryan Coulson was wounded in Iraq in November 2005. His first experience with
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing was on a fishing trip in the summer of 2008. He
attended a Project Healing Waters fly tying class this past fall at Fort Carson and
has become a fanatical fly fisherman and fly tier.
Ryan grew up in Arizona and tried fly fishing once shortly before becoming involved
in project Healing Waters but gave it up as too difficult. He was medically retired
from the Army in July 2009 and currently works as a security guard in Colorado
Springs.
Ryan purchased his raffle ticket while volunteering in the Project Healing Waters
Fly Fishing booth at the Denver Fly Fishing Show. Congratulations, Ryan. And thank
you for your service to our country!
Erik Heikkenen, Board Member |
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