It takes dedication and a lot of effort to keep a small charitable foundation going, but all Trad Whaley has to do is look at the list of families the Claire Whaley Foundation has helped and he knows he has to keep going with the effort named for his daughter.

The 6^th annual Claire Whaley Foundation Bass Tournament will be held Saturday on Lake Russell with a $200 entry fee, plus an optional $10 for Big Fish, and a guaranteed first place prize of $5,000. Most of the money raised by the tournament comes through donations, said Whaley, a tournament angler himself, as 85 percent of the entry fees is paid back to the fishermen.

The theme of the tournament is: “Helping families with special needs children one cast at a time.”

Whaley’s daughter, Claire, was diagnosed with Ischemic Hypoxic Encephalopathy which means that parts of her brain were deprived of oxygen when she stopped breathing right after birth. She has not been able to develop normally, has the most trouble with her vision, and also demonstrates characteristics of cerebral palsy.

Whaley and his wife Angie created the Claire Whaley Foundation when they were denied participation in some state and federal programs because their family income exceeded eligible limits. The foundation exists to provide support for middle class working families who have children with special needs.

“We’ve been doing it for six years and in that time we have raised right at $30,000 and every cent of that except for our costs went to the families. We try to help at last three or four families each year as much as we can. We’ve been lucky the last few years – we’ve been able to buy medical equipment for some of the kids and sometimes we just donate cash for the families to use as they need.”

Whaley pointed out that the foundation is a 501c charity.

“It was hard getting the paperwork done at first, but it was worth it,” he said. “We are doing everything the right way. We are 100 percent for the families.”

And, he added, the tournament is lucky this year, falling right on the spawn for the bass in Lake Russell.

“I think the fish will be coming to the bank and they are finally biting good. Hopefully, everyone will know that and come out and fish with us Saturday,” he said. “It’s been taking 15 to 16 pounds down there in weekend tournaments. It’s looking to be a pretty day weather-wise, so it should be a really enjoyable tournament.”

 

Claire Whaley Foundation Bass Tournament

Sat, Apr 12, 2014

Lake Russell

72 Ramp

Call Trad Whaley at 864-378-0952