Middlesboro Mayor Rick Nelson signed a proclamation designating the weekend of Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 “RoHo Fishing Tournament Weekend.”

The proclamation reads, “The RoHo Club was formed in 1965 and is a non-profit organization that has an annual year-long fundraising event for a fishing tournament, and the proceeds from this event goes to needy children from the tri-state area for a Christmas shopping spree and will be held this year at Beech Island Marina on Norris Lake.”

The fishing tournament starts each morning at 8 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

You can support a child for $150, which is the purchase price of 30 tickets, for the Christmas Shopping Spree. This allows a child to shop for $110 in clothes and $40 in toys.

“With this sponsorship, you are registered for door prizes, fishing and cash prizes,” said Lawrence Tuck, a spokesperson for the RoHo Fishing Tournament. “If you are the winner in your catch category, you do not have to be present to win.”

“This event is a time-honored tradition and a chance to give back to the community and help those in need,” Mayor Nelson said during the proclamation reading. “I, mayor of the City of Middlesboro do hereby proclaim this weekend as ‘RoHo Fishing Tournament Weekend’ and encourage all citizens to participate.”

During the 2018 shopping spree, approximately 339 children participated in the annual tradition that has grown from only five children to having 339 children from across counties in the tri-state area that represent 29 schools.

“As a teacher it’s the most rewarding experience because I worry about some of my kids not having Christmas, and this takes that fear away because I know that they’re going to have a coat and new shoes this year,” says Jessica Jones, a teacher at Springdale Elementary. “I even came to RoHo in middle school when I was in Beta Club and helped other students shop, so I have loved RoHo close to 20 years now.”

The annual shopping spree is held at Middlesboro Walmart, and Tuck says they are an outstanding supporter of the program.

“They go above and beyond the checkout lane to make this a very memorable day for all involved,” he said.

The children are also treated to lunch and get a chance to meet Santa.

If you would like to purchase tickets for the fishing tournament weekend, they can be found at these following locations:

• Beach Island Marina;

• East End Pawn Shop;

• Eddie Beeler;

• First State Bank;

• Hillcrest Lanes;

• Imperial Bait & Tackle;

• Jim Brown Supply;

• Justin Mays – State Farm;

• Kenneth Wilson Auto;

• Rusty Peace – LMU Communications;

• Long’s Pic Pac – Pineville;

• Lost Creek Campground;

• Pappy’s;

• Raymond Caylor – Tazewell;

• Southern Outdoor;

• Shylock’s Pawn Shop – Tazewell;

• Tri-State Outfitters;

• Tuttles Grocery – Highway 63;

• Any RoHo Member.

To find out more about the event and other ways of helping, please visit www.rohofishing.org.