A FAMILY raised their biggest ever sum after 10 years of hosting charity fishathons.
Anglers took to Willow Park Fishery in Aldershot, for Ian and Victoria Palmer’s 10th anniversary fishing match for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) from Friday, October 7 to Sunday, October 9.
The couple, from Stanmore, started the event after Ian’s sister Debbie died of breast cancer at 44. Mr Palmer has also survived Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was fishing when he found out his sister’s second bout of cancer was terminal.
The two-day fishing match raised a total of more than £5300 from the 38 anglers who took part, the raffle and donations from friends and family. The most raised by the biennial fishing match which began in Ampfield in 2012.
READ MORE: Winchester couple host 10th anniversary fishing match for Cancer Research in Aldershot fishery
Organiser Vicki Palmer said: “Unfortunately we didn't hit our target of £10,000 but still raised a respectable amount for CRUK which given the current cost of living crisis we are really pleased with.
“As a family, we have been hit hard by cancer, we have lost siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to it. But we have also had siblings, parents, cousins, and uncles survive it, and that is what drives us to help CRUK develop better treatments and find cures to this non discriminate disease. We want to see Cancer eradicated and the only way to do that is through research and development of better treatments.”
Due to low water levels, the competition was challenging with only six out of the 19 pairs catching anything the whole weekend. Winners Andy Layland from Bankbound Carp Pics and his partner Geoff Bishop caught four fish totalling to 82.5lb. Geoff also won the trophy for the biggest fish trophy with the top catch weighing 27.2lb.
SEE ALSO: Closs & Hamblin Winchester closure: Store announces downsizing to a new a location
Competitors’ families came along to show their support as well as a few members of the public and fishery staff. Anglers and visitors got together on Saturday afternoon for a raffle and auction with prizes donated from shops and fisheries such as Poingdestres Angling, Sainsbury's Badger Farm, Linear Fisheries, Coking Farm fishery, Korda Tackle, Sam's custom hookbaits, Bait Ministry, Fuller's Brewery, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Nash Tackle
Aldershot fishery has given a provisional go-ahead for the next match, due to take place around March to April in 2024. Tickets will be available a year in advance.
For more information or to donate to this year’s total go to fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/cast-4-life-2022-48hr-fishathon.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here