More Than 200 Go Fishin' For A Cure In Fort Peck Lake Derby

Fishin’ for the Cure, a Montana-based organization that builds public awareness of childhood cancer and raises funds to support childhood cancer research, hosted its sixth annual Montana fishing derby.

The event held Aug. 17 at Rock Creek Marina on Fort Peck Reservoir was attended and supported by more than 200 gracious participants – with 39 fishing teams and nearly 100 fishermen – helping raise money for childhood cancer research.

The total fundraising efforts in Montana have yielded more than $29,000 to date. FFTC will be working with the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative in an effort to fund the most promising research grants currently available and to bring us closer to a cure for the children.

Here are the final leader boards for the derby winners:

Walleye

First place: Jason Scarpholt, Troy Handran, Kendall Irish of Glendive with ​ 17.3 pounds.

Second place: Mike and Carrie Gibbs of Glendive with 16.42pounds.

Third place: Shawn Schock, Donny and Megan Malia, Shad Edwards of Billings with 15.56 pounds.

Jason Scarpholt caught the largest walleye of the day at 7.12 pounds.

Northern Pike

First place: Jane Jarvis, Greg and Myrna Sadorf of Glendive with 16.7 pounds.

Second place: Jason Scarpholt, Troy Handran, Kendall Irish of Glendive with 14.5 pounds.

Third place: Jim Gehnert, Russell Feisthamel, Justin and Jamie McMillan, Kristine Keltgan of Glendive with 13.7​pounds.

With Gabe Schlosser of Glendive reeling in the largest Northern Pike at 12.5pounds.

In addition to the fishing derby, this year’s event included “Be Brave and Shave,” in which children and adults collected donations to shave their heads to raise awareness for childhood cancer. On the roster was Takayra Prescott, 8, of Fort Peck, who donated her long-braided hair to “Locks of Love” and then proceeding to completely shave her head.

Said Takayra: “I don’t really like brushing my long hair and I know there are girls who don’t have any hair, so I’d like them to have it.”

She was joined by Boone Smail, 10, who pulled his wagon around Stanford for “Cookie Tuesdays,” with a portion of his proceeds going to FFTC and his once-a-year haircut – actually shave – at the event.

Gloria Hungate and her nephew Ridley Hungate, 10, of Stanford, have been faithfully manning a lemonade stand at the local farmers market to also raise money for childhood cancer research and shave their heads.

Many other supporters led fundraising efforts prior to the fishing derby.

FFTC founder Matthew Siegle would have celebrated his 10-year Dawson County High School reunion this summer. Friends and classmates honored him and his valiant battle with cancer by raising nearly $2,000 to keep his dream going to help find a cure.

In addition, a group of Glendive girls formed Team Tate, honoring their friend, Tate Begger, who lost his battle to cancer at too young of an age and this year held a lemonade and bake sale and made a substantial contribution to FFTC.

“With the incredible support, Fishin’ for the Cure is able to help fund the most promising research grants to find a cure for childhood cancer, says Lynnette Siegle, mother of Matt Siegle and Secretary of FFTC. “Our goal is to cure childhood cancer one lake at a time."

Major sponsors were Burlington Northern Sante Fe, Rock Creek Marina, Montana Walleyes Unlimited and Walleyes Unlimited of Glasgow and Glendive.