Bobbers, worms, and a big jumper out on the line. The Jacksonville Kiwanis hosted their 3rd annual Take Me Fishing Event Saturday morning at Nichols Park in Jacksonville.
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Participants line the banks at Nichols Park in hopes of capturing a prize at the annual fishing derby.
Tom Glossop, who organizes the event for children with developmental and learning disabilities, explains the event’s history. “The first year was more of a learning process in organization. Even though we had some pretty good publicity that year, we only had 5 entrants. Last year, our second year, we had 15 people register. This year we had 19 children register.”
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Glossop helps one of the participants measure one of the fish he just caught.
Glossop explains why the Kiwanis put on the fishing event: “It all started when Mark Gillespie was president of the Kiwanis. He asked me to do a fishing derby for children. The Kiwanis special emphasis is helping children of the world. I told Mark that there were already two big fishing derbies in town for kids – one by the Elks and one by the Jacksonville Bass Club. I said why don’t we target children with developmental and learning disabilities because sometimes they don’t get a chance to participate or don’t want to participate. Let’s do something for them. It’s been really worthwhile for me. Helping the children bait their hooks or catch a fish. Just seeing that smile on their face is worth more than a million bucks.”
The tournament wrapped up at 11 AM Saturday morning with children receiving prizes and trophies in several age categories.