Every year, men affected by bleeding disorders gather to talk, share, learn, and bond at retreats held around the country. Here’s what participants enjoyed at three men’s retreats held in 2025.
NEBRASKA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL BLEEDING DISORDERS FOUNDATION AND BLEEDING DISORDERS OF THE HEARTLAND
Attendees put their outdoor skills to the test at this regional retreat, held July 11 to 13, 2025, at Jester Park in Des Moines, Iowa. The joint event was facilitated by Trails to Healthy Living, an organization that promotes wellness and personal growth through outdoor adventures and is run by Kevin Harris and Brian Rodgers, both of whom live with hemophilia B.
“Brian and I share a lot of battles that we’ve dealt with in our lives and with that, these men just open up about their own struggles,” Harris says.
The weekend started with preparing distinctive rubs for steaks and cooking them over a campfire Friday night. Kayaking, fishing, and a spirited game of miniature golf took up most of Saturday.
But it was the late-night campfire discussions where bonds were really forged. “Participants said they walked away feeling more connected and supported than they had expected,” says Brooke Loving, executive director of Bleeding Disorders of the Heartland.
Learn more about the Nebraska Chapter of NBDF and Bleeding Disorders of the Heartland.
LOUISIANA HEMOPHILIA FOUNDATION
The 29 men who gathered at the Blue Dolphin Inn in Grand Isle, Louisiana, on July 18 to 20, 2025, for the Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation’s (LHF) annual retreat filled all the inn’s cabins. They got to know each other Friday night while grilling steaks and then enjoyed programming from the local hemophilia treatment center.
Saturday was the main event. The chapter rented four fishing charter boats, each carrying eight men. Their efforts paid off with coolers filled with red snapper. However, “the deep-sea fishing trip wasn’t just about the catch,” says participant Elijah Burdine. “It was about connection. As men who live with or love someone with a blood disorder, being out on the water together gave us space to share, reflect, and support each other in ways that go deeper than words.”
The retreat has been held for five years in a row, which isn’t surprising to LHF Executive Director Danielle Rowley. “The men had the best time ever,” she says.
Learn more about the Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation.
GATEWAY BLEEDING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION AND MIDWEST HEMOPHILIA ASSOCIATION
The 700 acres of pristine green at the Old Kinderhook Resort and Golf Club formed the backdrop to a joint retreat, held March 21 to 23, 2025. After a welcome dinner Friday night, the group of 19 men learned about the important role of advocating for others with bleeding disorders during a program Saturday morning.
Participants then undertook a “give-back” woodworking project, constructing benches for the associations’ respective children’s camps. “While they were working on the benches, they were also talking about issues or concerns that they have about their condition,” says Angela Brown, the Midwest Hemophilia Association’s executive director.
The men heard from Perry Parker, a professional golfer living with hemophilia A, and got the chance to improve their strokes in a golf clinic under his guidance, before teeing off for nine holes of the sport. “Shared experiences and feeling part of something is crucial in this community, and this retreat makes that more possible,” one participant said.
Learn more about the Gateway Bleeding Disorders Association and the Midwest Hemophilia Association.