For the third year, a free fishing derby for children age 12 and under is being sponsored by the Jason Harvey Y Men’s Memorial fund. It will be on Saturday, July 11, at the Golden Eagle Farm.
The memorial fund was established after Jason’s death on July 11, 2006, because he had been an active member of the club.
Jason’s parents, Don and Carol Harvey, explained registrations are being accepted at the YMCA of Hannibal, on a first-come first-served basis, with a limit of 30. Transportation, fishing equipment and lunch are all provided for the children, who will be transported by trolley from the YMCA.
The first fishing derby was scheduled in 2007 because “Jason loved to fish,” said Carol. After the children ride the trolley to the farm, she added, “everything is provided. We feed them lunch, and each child is assigned an adult,” a member of the Y Men’s Club, who helps them learn to fish.
“The trolley will pick them back up at 3:30 or 4 and take them back to the Y, and the parents pick them up there.”
Don explained that, “whenever we got together as a family, Jason would always be helping them fish all the time. He would spend the whole day with the kids, and we would all watch him. ... We thought this would be a fun way to remember him. Every year at least half the kids have never fished before, so it’s kind of a learning experience for them.”
The memorial fund is also used to buy items for YMCA activities, Don said, including toys for the children’s play area and a laptop computer for the swim meet program.
Each July, the Y Men’s Club’s “Down by the River” musical evening is a benefit for the Harvey Memorial fund. This month it will be on Friday, July 10, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with music by Black Tie. It will be at the Y Men’s Club pavilion, and the Harveys invited the public to attend.
Hannibal, MO —
