posted by Suzanne
We use Starlight Foundation’s Great Escape program all the time. Once Erin was accepted with Starlight, we were added to an email distribution list that notifies parents of upcoming events. So far this summer we have attended pre-screenings to movies, went to the University of Washington planetarium (which isn’t open to the public), and attended a few festivals. Yesterday’s event was sponsored by C.A.S.T. for Kids (Catch A Sprecial Thrill). It was by far our funnest event of the summer.
C.A.S.T. is all over the United States and they put on events where disabled or disadvantaged children can fish where they otherwise could not. Everyone a part of yesterday’s event were volunteers. From the medical students from University of Washington applying sunscreen on the kids to the boat captains were all volunteers. We got up early and headed down to the Foss Waterway in Tacoma, WA. There we met up with the group and we were assigned to Frank Blisswell. Frank is an incredibly warm and personable man who spends three to five days a week fishing for leisure. He’s retired and lives near Gig Harbor with his wife on private island. He’s a grandfather as well and loves to take his grandkids fishing.
Frank took us out to Vashon Island where some other C.A.S.T. boats were dropping their lines. We hung out in that cove for a while and wasn’t catching anything. Over the marine radio one other captain told the fleet where he was and that the kids were catching flounders. We sped off to our new location and dropped our lines. All the boats around us were catching fish left and right. Brennan suggested that they should bait their hooks with the fish heads we were given. Frank promptly pulled out our bait fish and chopped off the heads. Within minutes, Brennan caught his first fish! As the fish was coming up close to the surface I told Frank, “Wow, that looks like a shark.” He replied, “Well, that is because it is.” This small shark is known as a dog fish. According to Frank, dog fish is considered a “trash” fish because they tend to take the bait and are not worth keeping. Even up until a couple of years ago, anglers would slash the caught dog fish and then throw them back. Now the species is now protected so you are required to throw it back alive. Frank, the wonderful grandfather that he is, told me not to bust Brennan’s bubble. He said Brennan deserved to say he caught a shark because he did.
We were on the water a total of two and a half hours. All together the kids caught three dog fish and two flounders. All three of the kids were having such a good time. They didn’t want to head back. They really wanted to catch a fish to take home. I am so glad they didn’t. I would not know the first thing to do with it!
A local Kiwanis chapter supplied the lunch for all the participants. As we enjoyed our lunch, the president of C.A.S.T. gave out awards to all the kids. Erin was presented with a plaque that has our picture that was taken just before we boarded our boat. She was also given her very own fishing rod and tackle box. Then Captain Frank presented the boys with one of his personal fishing rods. It was the very rod that the boys caught some of their fish.
Like I said before, this was one of our favorite events. The kids will be talking about their fishing expedition for a long time. Thank you to everyone who put event together. Your efforts were well worth it. The McCloskeys were one of many happy families who attended!
