Special Needs Youth Sportsmen to host activity

CHESAPEAKE — There will be a fishing event for children with special needs and their families on June 2.

Michael Finley of Special Needs Youth Sportsman, said it is a good day for all.

“We are about getting kids out and having some fun in the outdoors,” he said, adding that the fishing event is open to all kids. “A lot of kids have lost parents, or don’t have any way to get into the outdoors. We have all types of kids and we just want them to have a day of fun. Everyone is welcome.”

He added there is adaptive equipment to help out those who need it. There is no charge.

Kids and their parents or guardians just need to show up and fish.

“We provide the fishing poles and the bait,” Finley said.

Anyone wishing to participate is asked to meet at Tractor Supply in South Point at 7:30 a.m. to follow the caravan of vehicles to a private lake in Chesapeake. Fishing starts at 8 a.m. and those who can’t make the meet-up time, can follow the signs posted along the route to the lake.

Finley said that they serve breakfast, lunch, and drinks during the four-hour event.

And they will cook whatever the fishers catch.

“We will fry it up right there for them,” Finley said. “Or we can bag it up and they can take it home.”

He said the chance of catching a fish is around 100 percent.

“We really overstocked the pond, because we want every kid to catch a fish,” Finley said. “That makes it good for everybody.”

Finley said about 170 people attended last year.

“It is a first class deal and it is a great time,” he said. “We have prizes too, for first catch, biggest fish, smallest fish, you name it. We try to make it very festive, very family-orientated.”