By: Chasten Whitfield
I started visiting my Face Autism friends when I was 10 years old. We would host a tournament to raise money for Face Autism.org and Manatee County where the proceed money would go directly to the children that are on the spectrum for therapies. These funds pay to have the skating rink, bowling alleys, sensory friendly Santa clause, and for other kids that are on the spectrum. We created a kiddie pool classic tournament where they can fish with cartoon rods and continue to sponsor this event for this group of kids every year. When I began college, I was unable to put on this tournament as I attend college out of state. This is one of my favorite tournaments and I have not been able to do it for two years now, however, I have every intention on starting it back up again when I’m finished with college.
I received a message from the Face Autism.org director Colleen, asking if we could take a few of their kids fishing. The COVID-19 issues have kept these kids cooped up and they were very much looking forward to being outside.
Being socially distance conscience, our plan was to separate the children a little bit. I contacted my friend Justin Rudrud from Hidden Bottom Charters, to help out and he took a couple kids and I took a couple kids. We started out getting bait just as the sun came up over grass flats which was perfect as we picked up our kids at the boat ramp about 8:30 and headed out to find them some fish.
As soon as one of my guests Ally casted her own line into the water and after only a few seconds and it got hit super hard by a nice size snook. Now my other guest Stephanie was anxious to get her own fish so we hooked up a couple bait for her, cast out her line, and she got one as well. We had so much fun with these kids on this day and once again I cannot stress enough how the size of the fish does not matter. The self-esteem that these kids walked away with after baiting their hooks, casting their lines, and catching a fish was nothing more than amazing!
