Gulf Coast Kayak, Olde Fish House present check to Candlelighters
Last month, Matlacha Island’s Gulf Coast Kayak hosted the 2016 Great Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament. The proceeds from the tournament were donated to Candlelighters of Southwest Florida Wednesday morning at the Olde Fish House.
Candlelighters of Southwest Florida is an independent non-profit (501c3) charity founded by Klair Snellbaker shortly before the loss of her daughter Erin to cancer in 1984.
Erin was diagnosed with cancer when she was 2 and died from the disease at just 4 years old.
The website www.candlelightersswfl.org has a page entitled “On Erin’s Wings.” The mission statement of Candlelighters is ‘to provide support, education and assistance to families of children with cancer or blood disorders and the professionals who care for them.
“Candlelighters provides services such as emergency funds, death benefits, support for parents, and various family activities,” Gulf Coast Kayak co-owner Bryan Stockbridge said. “A couple of years ago we invited 17 kids who had been diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders to take them kayaking. That was a very rewarding experience so when we began planning the fishing contest we thought of them.”
“We are very pleased to present a check for $5,439 to Candlelighters this morning,” Stockbridge said. “This includes all of the money raised from the fishing tournament and money Lise Dence from Olde Fish House raised from bingo every Tuesday night.
“I have to say Lisa Dence was very generous and helpful throughout this entire process,” Klair Snellbaker, president of Candlelighters of Southwest Florida, said. “She turned over Olde Fish House for two days for the event and also donated the proceeds from the bingo games she runs every Tuesday for the month of November to Candlelighters.
“Our heartfelt thanks to Mike Hammond from Calusa Blueway and Bryan and Dianna Stockbridge from Gulf Coast Kayak for all their hard work to make this a successful event.”