The wind was brisk but the sun was warm as some 200 people turned out today for the 10th annual Fishing for a Cure event on Ramsey Lake.
Today marked the 10th time Shawn Scott has organized the ice fishing fundraiser, which is held to benefit Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer.
Scott told Sudbury.com at a previous event that he had never hosted a fundraiser before the inaugural Fishing for a Cure event in 2014, but was inspired to do so after hearing of a local boy's diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. Noah Borgogelli, 4, passed away from cancer in 2018, but his memory continues to inspire the event.
The NOFCC is a charitable organization designed to provide hope, support, advocacy and education to families who have a child with cancer. Through sponsorship and community support, Scott said his summer and winter fishing derbies have raised around $80,000 for the NOFCC.
For an entry fee, participants were given the choice of drilling their own hole or having one drilled for them; with first, second and third prizes available for a variety of species. Thousands in prizes were available for the winners, but in Scott’s mind the real winners are the families fighting a childhood cancer diagnosis who will be able to avail themselves of the assistance offered by NOFCC.
Scott wanted to highlight the continued support of Ramakko’s Source for Adventure and Moxy’s Bait & Tackle. Fishing for a Cure wouldn’t be the success it is without their support, he said.
And without the support of the people who turn out for a day of fishing, the event “would never be this big,” Scott said.
“People have a great time with their family” and that good word of mouth creates “a chain reaction to make it bigger every year” and ensure more families can get the help they need when battling childhood cancer.
To find out more about Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer or to show your support, visit them online at NOFCC.ca.
