Lake Rodrigo Gomez (La Boca)
Monterrey Event Crosses International Boundary
By: Art Pasley
For the first time in the 13 year history of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, an event for disabled children in Monterrey, Mexico was held in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains, breaking international barriers and becoming the first International C.A.S.T. for Kids Event.
This was much more than a C.A.S.T. event, it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I saw an outpour of emotions from boaters and participants like I have never seen before. I'll be the first to admit, I had my doubts as to how the event would turn out, but those doubts were washed away by the many tears of the boaters, children and volunteers alike. What a wonderful experience and what a great group of new Special Thrill Makers. Rather than try to put into words what I experienced that day, I have included the newspaper article written by reporter Aidee Molina. I couldn't have said it better. Our special thanks to Javier Villarreal Elixondo for his untiring effort to provide this event to the children of Monterrey.
By: Aidee Molina
Members of associations of fishermen of Nuevo Leon went out with 30 handicapped children & youth to test their skills with rod & reel.
"Something bit! Something bit" shouted Erick Lanan, age 9, arriving at one of the docks of Presa La Boca, in Santiago.
There, a group of fisherman with cameras at hand, waited to offer congratulations & photograph his success. Soon, along with Luis Miguel Villarreal, his boat captain, he left for more fishing.
The same thing happened to Maria Gomez, age 17.
"Let's go for more, let's go for more" she said to the captain, Ricardo Cavazoa, after he took her photograph.
For these fans of fishing and their guides, yesterday was an exceptional day, not only for catching fish, but also because the rod and reel were the means for showing that no disability is an obstacle to a festive occasion.
Prompted by the social work of the U.S. foundation CAST for Kids, for the first time members of different fishing associations in Nuevo Leon met with children with special needs.
In this event, they met with 30 children & youth with Down's syndrome who are students or former students of the Workshop of Expression & Whole Development (TEDI).
"We had never found a way to help & do social work, but through the (association of fishermen) BASS U.S.A., we worked with the CAST foundation, which is dedicated to carrying out this type of experience", said David Colyer, president of the Bass Federation of Mexico, A.C.
And it is this foundation, which started in 1991, and whose initials Catch A Special Thrill, which is to say "Catch A Special Excitement", promotes in a day of fishing a union between the fans of this sport and children with special needs, to whom it gives the tools for fishing, like the rod, the reel, a tackle box with hooks and artificial lures, and also a shirt & cap.
This work, which resulted in this special day, was well received by the members of fishing clubs such as Memos Fishing Team, Reglos Fishing & la Association de Pesca Deportiva de Nuevo Leon (the Association of Sports Fishing of Nuevo Leon).
"It's comforting to be able to help these kids. My student, thank God, is asking questions, spirited, full of life & heart, wanting to live" said an excited Daniel Gonzalez, member of the Club Buen Pescador A.C. (Good Fisherman Club), about Jimmy, his fishing buddy.
Maruricio Arrambide was so drawn to this that he asked his wife Blanca to postpone their 10th wedding anniversary festivities.
With him went Felipe Gomez, age 21, who even drove the launch & returned it to the dock under his control.
"These youth live in a routine & it is difficult to remove them from it, but we see that they have learned not to fear the water, to get into a boat, to learn to fish, to be more independent".
Having her own fishing gear was such a treat to Nancy Hernandez, a shy girl of 16 that she conquered her fear of sharing with her companions how much she likes to dance.
The busy morning ended with a gathering of the captains and their new pupils, along with family members and the organizers.
Colyer stated that this is the first of such days of conviviality that the association will organize, so that if any institution is interested in their students' participation, they should call for information at 8365-4434.
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