For one magical moment in the middle of an Iowa forest, former Navy man Paul Austin showed the woods who’s boss. He was paralyzed seven years ago, but as he settled in for a crossbow shot, wheelchair and all, it was clear he had some unfinished business with the great outdoors. That moment? Just one highlight of the “Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experience,” a six-year-old nonprofit built on a simple mission: giving veterans a safe place to battle post-traumatic stress and loneliness, with the occasional deer and fishing line thrown in.
With a hunt, a ruck walk, and some serious time swapping stories under a canopy of stars, this organization funds it all through donations. And this year, the group scored an MVP-level boost from the Iowa women’s basketball team — Caitlin Clark, Lisa Bluder, and the whole crew signed a basketball now set for auction on Nov. 2. Game-changer, right?
Paul Austin and his wife, Brandi, who traveled all the way from North Carolina to join this forest therapy, know firsthand how much these getaways mean. Paul served in the Navy from 2003 to 2007, but after a fall severed his spinal cord, he thought his outdoor days were over. Until his wife found this Iowa-based nonprofit, got them a fully accessible hotel, and here they were, stalking a buck together, whispers and all.
“Brandi goes, ‘Dear,’ and I’m thinking, ‘What?’” Paul says, laughing about the moment he realized the buck had walked right into his sights. Seconds later, crossbow bolts flew, hoots and hollers erupted, and yes, Paul bagged his deer. “He said he couldn’t do it, and now he did,” Brandi said. “It was pure magic.”
The group’s president, Scott Storck, says Paul isn’t alone in his transformation. With camaraderie, the organization provides what he calls “life-saving wilderness therapy.” And when they heard about the signed basketball? They were blown away. Iowa women’s basketball legend Caitlin Clark and retired head coach Lisa Bluder had signed it! Now this baby is going up for grabs in a silent auction at 222 East Main St. in Solon, kicking off Nov. 2 and ending Nov. 4 at 9 p.m.
According to Storck, it’s been a lifesaver for veterans — literally. “Since we started, 16 veterans have said we saved their lives,” he shared. That’s a small dent in the daunting statistic that 22 veterans die by suicide daily, but for Storck and his team, every life counts. Each participant has his number on speed dial. “They can call us 24/7,” he said.
So, grab your wallets and get ready to bid, folks. You won’t just get a legendary signed basketball. You’ll be giving our veterans a chance to say, “I can do this” — or in Paul’s case, “I did.” And who doesn’t love a good buzzer-beater moment for a cause like that?
