Fifth Annual Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament raises $20,559 for Tidewell Hospice
SARASOTA - Much like the Dick Vitale Gala, the Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament keeps raising the bar.
Started by Bradenton's Joann Day, the mother of Chad, an avid local fisherman, who died of brain cancer in 2015 at 24, the annual tournament recently had its fifth celebration. And after raising nearly $16,000 last year, all of it benefitting Tidewell Hospice, which cared for Chad when he was sick, this year's event topped $20,000, earning Tidewell a total of $20,559.
The catch-and-release tournament attracted 14 boats, its anglers targeting snook, redfish, and trout. First place in each species earned $1,000, second place $700, and third place $300. In the snook category, Cancer Sucks took first, Reel Knowledge Fishing second, and Anderson Dock & Lift third.
In the redfish category, Wet Dreams took first, FL Fishing Team second, and Reel Knowledge Fishing third. In the trout category, FL Fishing Team took first, Team Longshank second, and Wet Possy third.
And two teams donated their winnings to Tidewell Hospice. Cory Shannon, Ian Shannon, Luke Fisher, and Terry Bailey of Cancer Sucks gave back their $1,000, as did Josh Harris and Scott King of Reel Knowledge Fishing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Chad Day Fishing Tournament raises $20,559 for Tidewell Hospice
