CENTER OF ALABAMA

from Birmingham Parent - March-April 2022

WORK POST-BABY

Fishing Tournament Raises Funds for the Heart

the largest charity fishing tournament in the country – has raised and donated $800,000 for the center. “The fact that we’ve raised so much for a 250-boat tournament shows how much people care about our mission and our passion,” McNutt says. “When you think about the center, it’s not just serving Birmingham or the 67 counties in Alabama. The center serves the entire Southeast and children from multiple countries.”

With the money, life-saving heart research is being done, as well as connecting young heart patients with resources to stay healthy after surgery through Camp Wired Together. Knowing that they are potentially helping so many families not only around the Southeast, but the world keeps the founding families incredibly motivated to keep the tournament going strong. “One thing we always say is that you never know when it’s going to be your child or grandchild that needs this care,” McNutt says. “Hopefully, through this fundraiser the center can help kids down the road. Not just ours right now, but other kids down the road with more research into congenital heart defects. We want to make a positive change.”

Register for or learn more about Castin’ N’ Catchin’ at castinncatchin.org

By Paige Townley

Photos courtesy of Children’s of Alabama

Hearing that your child has a congenital heart defect is never expected or easy. But for four families walking through that journey in north Alabama, it became a motivating factor to start an annual fundraiser that is raising thousands every year for the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama.

It all began a few years ago, when Drew and Jodie McNutt sat in the waiting room at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama, waiting on a procedure for their son Andrew. They were chatting with another family, Lee and Jessica Bradford, who were also there with their son Tucker, who was having open heart surgery.

“It just started as a simple conversation about how we would like to give back to this amazing place that has done so much for our children,” McNutt shares. “We saw the determination and passion that the doctors, nurses, and surgeons put into our children. It made us want to do everything we could to give back.”

The two families reached out to two other families with congenital heart defects weighing heavily on their hearts – Jason and Lacey Simpson whose son Brody has it, as well as Justin and Heather Stroud, whose son William passed away from it. All living in North Alabama near Lake Guntersville, it didn’t take very long for inspiration to hit: a fishing tournament. “There wasn’t a whole lot of experience we had with bass fishing, but we believed in the idea,” says McNutt Guntersville is one of the top lakes in the entire world.”

The very first Castin’ N’ Catchin’ fishing tournament was held in May 2016. The families set a goal of $10,000 hoping that they would raise at least half of that amount. “We hit our goal with just the very first sponsorship we got,” McNutt says. “From there, it really took off. Every year we’ve raised more than $100,000, and 100 percent of it goes directly to the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama.”

This year, the tournament is scheduled for April 23 at Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro. As in years’ past, there is a limit of 250 boats. “The tournament attracts so many fishermen and fisherwomen from all over,” McNutt adds. “We get entries from people all over the Southeast. So many people have opened their hearts and wallets for our mission and this tournament, and we are forever grateful. This tournament is the highlight of our year.”

Also as in years past, boat number one will be dedicated to the Stroud’s son William as the children are the constant reminders of how important the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama is and that more can and should be done to further its research.

“This is a fraternity that you don’t want to be a part of, but the fact that we have a network of people we can walk through it with and share experiences with certainly helps,” McNutt says. “And it also helps that we have the center doing so much to help our children. They are at an age now where they get it and understand it, and their strength and perseverance is what drives us every day.”

Paige Townley is a Birmingham freelance writer.