Special Thrill's at Conroe
By Art Pasley
For most, October 22nd was just another day, but for 23 children from the Shriners Hospital in Houston and 40 volunteers from the surrounding area, it was a day no one will soon forget. The Conroe C.A.S.T. event began in 1997 and has provided a day of fun and fishing for this select group each year since. With the continued support of Ron Werner and his staff at April Plaza Marina & Motel, the event provides a break from painful treatments and therapy for children that for most have never been fishing or enjoyed a ride in a boat.
The holding of this year's event was questionable at best. As you know, Texas and the Gulf coast was blasted by two major hurricanes and every resource available was sent to help in the recovery effort by the property owners and volunteers. Funding poured into the relief effort and it was thought at one point that the Conroe event would soon be lost.
"We just wouldn't give up the event" stated event host Barbara Schalbra. "It means so much to so many people and the thought of not being there for these kids was just unacceptable," she concluded.
This may seem like just another hoorah and happy heart story. Truth is, during the recovery effort of the hurricane victims, Barbara and her daughter Elisha Taylor put together a temporary kitchen at the April Plaza Motel for the evacuees. They not only reached out to those in need of food and shelter, they filled up gas cans and rode up and down Highway 45 (the escape route to North Texas) giving away gas at no charge so the people could continue their effort to move to higher ground. Elisha opened a make shift store with items donated to the victims such as bottled water, diapers and canned food. Between the two, they did more than anyone will ever know. All this was done as they continued to plan and raise funds for the Conroe C.A.S.T. event. And what an event it was.
As the vans pulled into the April Plaza parking lot, they opened the doors to a new world for most of the passengers. Chris, a young Hispanic boy had just undergone a procedure on both legs. I can tell you, pain sounds the same no matter what language you speak. He was gently lifted from the seat and placed into his wheelchair, then made his way to the registration.
Gary Smith, Texas BASS State Federation Youth Director, paired him with a volunteer boater, just as he has for all the kids for the past 8 years. Professional photographer Sherran Strong Bard, owner of "Eyes of Texas Photography," snapped pictures of each child and boater and Gary did the same for the award plaques. Once the 23 participants were supplied a rod and reel, hat tackle box and t-shirt they were sent out for another fun day of fishing.
As the grill was fired up by the Montgomery County Sheriffs Citizens Alumni Association, the hot dogs were prepared, and by noon our young anglers had returned to enjoy a great barbeque lunch and a magic show provided by "Skeeter the Clown". For a group of kids with so many physical problems, it seemed as though for a little while, there was no pain and life was as good as it could get. As each was called up one by one, they were presented a special award plaque which included a picture of them and their boat captain.
As with every event, all good things must come to an end and end it did. As one of the boater captains passed on his way to the parking lot, he stated "this is going to be one teary ride home. I had a wonderful time and I'm really going to miss that kid." "Thank you all so much" was heard repeatedly as the parents and Shriners Hospital staff loaded everyone into the vans for the trip back to the hospital.
"Special Thrill Maker" seems like such a simple phrase, but what do you call someone with so much love and caring for other people? People that until that day were complete and total strangers, but seeing a need and reaching out to help was something that just came naturally. Thank you Barbara, Elisha, Gary, Tammy, Sherran and all the many volunteers and donors, for your continued support. You truly are "Special People, Helping Special Children, Catch A Special Thrill"
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