A FATHER who began a fishing challenge 10 years ago to raise funds in memory of his daughter has finally hit his target of £100,000 thanks to heart-warming support from the angling community.
Colin Cook set up the Claire House Challenge in 2012 after Ellie (7) passed away in September 2011 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Claire House, a children’s hospice in the North West, provided support to Colin and his family when Ellie received her diagnosis, and keen angler Colin, from Wallasey, wanted to run a fishing match in her memory.
“In the first year, 20 anglers took part and we raised around £1,000, which we were made up with,” he says. “From then, the event has grown every year, with fisheries across the Wirral participating.”
In October 2021, Ellie would have turned 18 and Colin and his family were determined to reach the fundraising target to mark the sad occasion. And, after running online auctions and selling fishing tackle on eBay, Colin and his wife Linda have now taken the total to £106,000.
“Without the kindness of fisheries, tackle shops, and everyone who takes part in the matches, we wouldn’t have been able to raise such a huge amount of money for such an important cause,” Colin added.
