After my first husband died in 1994 at the young age of 56 from brain cancer leaving so many undone experiences, I sat down and made my list of have to do before I die – now known as a bucket list. One of those things was to run a marathon. And I did in the fall of 1995, the Royal Victoria Marathon. When I got back, some great clients, Arthur and Janice Ginsberg convinced me that I should join Leukemia Team in Training and run another. Arthur, who was a hospital administrator, said that in his opinion the cure for cancer will come through the great research that was being funded through the team system and the Leukemia Society. So, I agreed to join and on the first team meeting-workout, I met Alan. We ran the Anchorage Marathon, the CIM and I ran the San Diego Rock and Roll. All toll, we raised in excess of $12,000 all the while pounding the pavement over those couple of years.
I have since decided that item on my list was handled, but we continue to support the charity. We are always good for a $25.00 donation to any of our friends and business associates that join Team in Training. Earlier this year, Kris Vogt, President of Coldwell Banker threw his hat into the ring for Leukemia’s Man of the Year. We at Coldwell Banker had dozens of different fundraisers. One of Kris’s biggest was he ran for over 24 hours and over 100 miles. Alan and I donated a fishing trip on our boat “Too Much Fun” for up to 4 anglers including all the gear, lunch and hopefully a successful day with the fish of their choice. It was part of the silent auction at the banquet when Kris was named Man of the Year having raised $108,000. for our local chapter. It turned out Kris bought the trip and we took him and his lovely family out on the Feather River for King Salmon this past Monday.
The fishing had been spotty with a decent opener but then the action died down with some fish being caught here and there. So was I thrilled and very relieved when within 10 minutes of having the lures in the water Kris hooked into a fish. As is the case with the early season salmon bite the fish was not well hooked and released himself. But within a half hour, the Vogt’s oldest daughter Kaela had a fish on and this one stayed on and we boated a beautiful chrome Jack. Thank you, Lord! Now everyone was excited and we put those lures back to work more magic. Next it was Kelsey’s turn and she got to experience a brief battle with a King, but like her dad that fish soon found freedom.
Lures back in the water, it wasn’t too long before Kaela let out an excited “Oh!” meaning “Fish On!” Alan knew right away, this was a good fish! He coached her on handling her rod as this fish was “hot” and wasn’t coming in without a good fight. After about 5 minutes we got our first glimpse of the fish and it was a beauty! Hooked in the mouth Kael did a masterful job of keeping that line tight but at the same time not horsing it. The fish approached the stern of the boat and then dove and reversed direction. Again, Alan kept coaching her to remain calm and to raise the rod tip and then reel down. At one point the fish dove under the boat and Alan gave Kaela a hand by taking over the rod to get the fish back under control. Back out in front of the boat on the down stream side Kaela resumed the lift and reel pattern bringing the fish up side the boat and Alan netted her. A gorgeous 19 lb. hen. The biggest fish she ever caught. I was so impressed by the calm presence she maintained. She did an amazing job of bringing that fish in.
But we weren’t done. Lures back in the water, it was now Kyle’s turn to tie into a big fish. This was another good fish and really hot flying totally out of the water twice. After about 10 minutes, all of a sudden, Kyle’s reel came out of the reel seat. Not sure how, but as we struggled the get it back in, there developed slack in the line and again that fish re-found its freedom. So disappointing, but at the same time, what incredible action Kris and all his kids experienced with Kings on the Feather!
We have had such wonderful luck on these trips we donate for Charity. I maintain it is the working of the Lord to keep those trips selling to benefit great organizations like the Leukemia Society who are working so hard to find a cure to Leukemia and other blood cancers.
Driving home how important this fundraising is, the son of one of my oldest and dearest friends died last month after a hard battle with Leukemia. Mike Dickert was barely out of his 20’s when he became ill. After months of treatment he went into remission. Unfortunately the cancer mutated and came back with a roar. I am flying back to Pennsylvania next week to attend his memorial bon fire on the back pasture of their horse farm. I would ask all who read this to keep Pat, Sherry and their other sons Patrick and Thomas in your prayers and when asked to support someone riding or running for Team in Training to write that check, no matter how small. We will continue to donate our trips and writing our checks whenever asked. And we will keep fishing to find a cure!
# posted by
Viki Benbow @ 3:27 PM
