By Bob and Ginny Riege

Mark your calendars the 11th Annual Fishing For A Cure Ice Fishing Tournament will be held this year at Eastside Lake in Austin, Saturday Feb. 2 from noon until 2 p.m. An auction, food and prizes for the contest take place after the tournament at the Eagles Club.

According to the event coordinator Jim Nelson. “The history of Fishing For A Cure, is rather remarkable, but the efforts we have seen from participants and local businesses towards cancer research have been incredible. It all started with a few guys from work getting together to have some fun, during the Minnesota winter. What better way to have some fun than ice fishing? As a friendly competition, each participant paid $5 and all of the money went to the person who caught the biggest fish. For a group of simple guys from Austin, Minnesota, this worked all right for the first few years. Once the contest started to draw more participants from all over southern Minnesota, young and old, as well as businesses wanting to donate prizes, we realized the impact we could have right here in our hometown. The Hormel Institute, was the perfect place to donate the money from our contest and Fishing For A Cure began.”

Jim Nelson and Duane Smith contacted me last February, and they started out with some of the best news for 2012. The Fishing for a Cure event was a tremendous success raising $11,887 for cancer research. That surpasses the amount raised by this event in the past three years combined, by well over $5,000.00.

Dan Lenz took home first place with a 1lb 13oz bass, second place went to Thomas Boever with a 1lb 4 oz crappie and rounding out third place was Steve Lowman with a 6.6 oz. crappie.

More importantly was the sense of community that came together on the ice that day. Over 270 participants took part in this event and they caught well over 50 fish. There were parents, kids, grandparents, dogs and all were fishing for cancer research. After the event the Eagles club was packed with a crowd eager for the live auction and raffle prizes. It was a job well done by the organizers and all who contributed to make this a tremendous success.

Since 2009, “ Fishing for a Cure” has raised money specifically to support The Hormel Institute’s cancer research. In those four years, “Fishing for a Cure” has raised more than $18,600 for The Institute, and have earned a “Gold Level” plaque on The Institute’s Donor Recognition Wall.

“We deeply appreciate our friends from “Fishing for a Cure” and how hard they work to make this event successful,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute. “The story of their contribution and how together we further cancer research is one we can all appreciate. Everyone who supported this tournament knows they are part of the work that will lead to a cancer-free world. It is a worthy goal and we are grateful for our collaboration.”

Everyone is affected by cancer in one form or another. Organizers and participants of the Fishing For A Cure Fundraiser want to support cancer research that is happening here in Austin. This is also a great way to get kids involved in ice fishing and in supporting a local charity.

Registration for this event will begin at 11 a.m. the day of the event right on Eastside Lake. Registration cost is $15 per person and it includes minnows, pre drilled holes, and a tackle pack plus food and door prizes will follow the contest at the Austin Eagles Club. A raffle and a live auction will also be conducted at the Eagles Club. Some of the items include; Jiffy propane auger/ fishing package, Clam Big Foot XL 2000 Hub Ice Shelter, 18” Husqvarna Chain Saw, Pizza for a Year. Twin’s tickets (club level) and many more.

If you or your company are interested in a sponsorship for this event or donating auction, or raffle items contact Jim Nelson at (507-219-6229) Duane Smith (507-440-1066) or email (janels4@charter.net). Any donations would be greatly appreciated. We hope to see you all at Fishing For A Cure in February.