Walleye Warrior/Looney Beaver Forum

[Big Brother]

Walleye Warrior derby raises $15,000 for Never Alone Foundation



Its location may have changed but the money raised was a whopper of an amount at the fifth-annual Walleye Warrior 24-hour Ice Fishing Marathon.

The popular ice-fishing event made its first trip to Selkirk Park last weekend after spending the previous four years at the Gimli Harbour.

The tournament, which attracted over 200 anglers, including 68 who fished for the entire 24-hour period, helped raise over $15,000 for CancerCare Manitoba and the Never Alone Foundation to help individuals and their families in the ongoing fight against cancer.

A $50 fee allowed anglers to participate in the full marathon and provided them with a ticket to a Saturday night dinner and a breakfast Sunday morning.

“($15,000) was a fabulous figure and it just shows where this tournament has come from, what it’s all about, and where it’s going,” said Winnipeg Blue Bombers president and CEO Lyle Bauer Wednesday afternoon. “It has evolved over the last number of years with higher attendance, certainly more profile, and we really have to thank the City of Selkirk and the Mayor (David Bell) for their support.”

Bauer set up the Never Alone Foundation and has had his own fight with the deadly disease - diagnosed with throat cancer in 2004.

And with the Blue Bombers as one of the main sponsors of the Walleye Warrior tourney, over $75,000 has now been raised through the event. That number, however, will assuredly grow substantially every year.

“It will continue to grow and there are some things we can even do better in the near future,” Bauer admitted. “It was an advantage to be in Selkirk with the close proximity to Winnipeg and we did receive very good support.”

The annual fishing marathon was an idea originated by Brian LeClair, who passed away from cancer a month prior to the inaugural event. Despite his passing, though, the first-year event continued in his memory and has become more successful each year.

People of all ages enjoyed themselves out on the ice while taking part in a plethora of activities.

There was a media challenge and Blue Bomber players Chris Cvetkovic and John Oosterhuis took part. Also making an appearance were Bomber mascots - Buzz and Boomer - cruising around the festivities on ATVs.



“It was a full day, but it was anything you wanted it to be,” Bauer noted. “It was something for all ages and it was such a great atmosphere...the excitement of a fish coming through the hole was unbelievable. People had a great time and everyone knows (the money raised) was going to a great cause for cancer and the Never Alone Foundation.

“Very few times do you have an event which tests your heart like that and this was one of them.” This was in the Selkirk Journal after the event
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[Northern Manitoban]

thats great! thanks for the update, so now we know the mark to beat for next year
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" I only fish on days that end with Y "

http://www.xtremesportfishing.com

[mntman]

15 thousand, that is great!! It was a fun time for me and I cant wait to do it again next year! I know it will be bigger but hard to get better.

Mike
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WHERE THERE'S FISH......I'LL BE THERE!!!