In 1994, a very good friend of mine and fishing mentor, Duff Murphy, founded a charity program that he quickly built momentum with. His ultimate goal was to raise money for a worthy cause while doing what he loved to do best - compete in fishing tournaments. Although research programs were a serious option, he decided to donate the money he raised to those in need NOW. The charity of choice was the Children's Wish Foundation who grants wishes for children with life threatening illnesses. He aptly named the program Fish For The Wish. Click here to continue>>

Our program is designed so that everyone who loves to fish can join in and make a difference for the children who need all our help -- and love - right now. There are many ways that you can help out this great cause.

Panfish - bronze $250 The panfish is both popular and exciting. They are scrappy fighters that have been bringing smiles to the faces of children since the invention of the hook. For a donation of just $250 you will join the Fish for the Wish team as a Panfish. You Get: Your name, or company name, will be added to the list of sponsors on the website.	Bass - Silver $500 The bass is arguably the most popular gamefish in North America. This chunky fish can grow to more than twenty pounds and it's aggressive nature has resulted in more pre-fishing trip jitters and sleepless nights for children worldwide than any other specie. For a donation of just $500 you will join the Fish for the Wish team as a Bass. You Get: Your name, or company name, hyperlink and logo will be added to the list of sponsors on the website.
Trout - Gold $750 The trout is a sleek, powerful fish that demands the respect of anglers world wide. To catch a trout one must be able to read a river, tie a fly or present a bait with such skill and precision that only the most adept angler can claim consistent success. Interest and passion for the sport is what comes first to a child. Trout prove their proficiency. For a donation of just $750 you will join the Fish for the Wish team as a Trout. You Get: Your name, or company name, hyperlink and logo will be added to the list of sponsors on the website and will be promoted using signage provided at all events and trade shows.	Musky - Platinum $1000 The musky is commonly known as a fish of 10,000 casts. Some anglers fish an entire lifetime without catching a musky. This fish is a majestic fresh water wolf, is top of the food chain and is highly prized as a trophy. There is nothing that will put a bigger smile on a child's face or more pride in their heart than to catch a musky of any size. For a donation of just $1000 you will join the Fish for the Wish team as a Musky. You Get: Your name, or company name, hyperlink, logo and half page bio will be added to the list of sponsors on the website and will be promoted using signage provided at all events and trade shows. Musky donors also qualify for a guided fishing trip with Chris Hockley at the end of the fishing season.

Your participation will make a difference for a child that is seriously ill. Contact me at chris@fishforthewish.com to register yourself and get your pledge forms. See you at the dock.

The program was a success right from the start. Duff began raising money by asking people to donate cash on a per pound basis and allowed them to cap their donation at wherever total they felt comfortable with. Tax receipts were available to anyone donating to the program. Only tournament weighed and recorded fish would qualify. Donations were also accepted and one of the first to present a cheque to the program was Bob Izumi. Corporate sponsorship soon followed and donations were flowing. Other tournament teams jumped on board and began raising dollars through their own tournament participation.

That same year Doug and I met at Port Perry High School where he worked with at-risk youth as a councilor. We started a high school fishing club together and he asked me to assist with the program. I took great pride in lending a hand to this incredible project and raised the most amount of money for him that year. Soon thereafter Duff accepted a job with the OPP and sadly had to let the program slide due to his hectic new training schedule.

Now twelve years later, I am in the position to use my own tournament schedule and corporate contacts to successfully resurrect the program. Fortunately, Duff has offered to be an active partner in this reinstatement. Of course, the Children's Wish Foundation is also delighted to see the program start up again.