Pink Boats for Hope
OutdoorHub 10.17.12
Fans Pledge per Pound with Pink Boats for Hope Angler Brian Bjorkman at National Guard FLW Walleye Championship in Quad Cities
October is breast cancer awareness month, turning many sporting events pink: pink gloves, pink towels, pink everything. Walleye fishing is no exception. Fishing fans are pledging a donation through Pink Boats for Hope at the National Guard FLW Walleye Championship, October 25-28, 2013 in Davenport, Iowa. Ranger Boats pro Brian Bjorkman will be the designated Pink Boats for Hope angler in the tournament with big pink boat logos on his windshield, a pink boat lapel pin on his jersey and a big, pink check to donate at the end of the tournament. Fans can pledge $1, $2 or $5 per pound (or any amount) for his total basket weight during the official weigh-in.
Past tournaments during the year (with additional anglers Janet Parker, George Liddle, Kevin Kerkvliet, and Dean Kaminski) have generated over $1300 to date. An additional $10 per pound has been pledged toward Bjorkman’s Championship effort on the Mississippi River. Anyone is welcome to participate. Go to www.pinkboatsforhope.com and click on the Pledge for Pounds Donation link.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Pink Boats for Hope team on the Mississippi River,” shared Bjorkman from his home in Fargo, North Dakota. “I love the FLW walleye championship. There’s always a ton of stiff competition to win it. Going in with this support, I know that every pound of fish I catch has an even bigger impact. It isn’t just my finish that I’m fishing for. It’s also to help folks that are battling a tough road.”
Proceeds will be donated to Treasured Chests, a 501c3 non-profit organization who mails free Care Packages to those recently diagnosed with breast cancer. “This non-profit also works with a breast cancer center to purchase medical equipment and software,” shared Dean Kaminski of Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Kaminski and his partner, Kevin Kerkvliet of Maplewood, Minnesota, run pink-wrapped Ranger Boats. “Treasured Chests host various events throughout the year for education, prevention, research, and treatment of breast cancer,” added Kerkvliet. “We love fishing with a purpose.”
“It is our mission to support the fighters, show our admiration to survivors, honor loved ones and never, ever give up hope that we can make a difference in the world,” shared Kelly Moore, 10-year breast cancer survivor and founder of the Treasured Chests foundation. “We thank Pink Boats for Hope for the donation and hope Brian catches a lot of fish at the Championship. Together we live to inspire.”
“We’re proud to be a part of this,” shared George Liddle of Liddle Marketing Company and Ranger Boats manufacturer’s representative for several states in the Midwest. “We’ve enjoyed sporting our pink at tournaments this year and getting some initial donations. We are glad to lend our pledge to Brian Bjorkman for the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour Championship to represent Pink Boats for Hope.” In addition to the pledge for pounds program, fishing fans can order Pink Boats for Hope logo’d t-shirts, visors, decals, lapel pins and even can koozies. Items are available at pinkboatsforhope.com and half of the net proceeds will benefit the 501c3 charities.
For more information, see www.pinkboatsforhope.com for complete information.
