Jan Porter remembered by big event
Jan Porter Charity Memorial offers you a chance to fish with the stars
“Every angler, no matter how rich they are, will have a chance of winning some truly great prizes” – Dai Gribble
THE angling world has been called to unite and celebrate the life of one of its most iconic figures.
Some of fishing’s biggest stars and tackle companies are urging the nation’s anglers to help raise money for charity this summer in memory of the legendary Jan Porter, who lost his life to cancer last April.
Celebrities such as four-times World Champion Bob Nudd, Tommy Pickering and The Big Fish Off star Dean Macey will be joining Angling Times’ Steve Ringer and Paul Garner as well as dozens of other top anglers in offering the public the chance to win a day’s fishing with them as part of the Jan Porter Charity Memorial project which launches on Thursday, April 27.
Anglers will also be able to win thousands of pounds’ worth of top-branded tackle over a weekend in August, when they will be encouraged to wear something red or Realtree and take photos of themselves in memory of Jan.
Anglers can take part by visiting the Facebook page or donating £5 or more on the special Jan Porter Memorial page that’s been set up on the JustGiving website.
Heading the campaign is current Drennan Cup holder Dai Gribble, who told Angling Times: “We hope this memorial event will not only celebrate one of angling’s most loved legends, but also generate lots of money for the charities and good publicity for angling as a whole,” he said.
“The idea to hold some of the prizes as raffles and not auctions, will allow every angler, no matter how rich they are, to have a chance of winning some truly
great prizes.
“On the ‘Wear Red or Realtree’ weekend, whether you knew Jan or not, we want as many people as possible from all over the country to wear something in memory of him.
“The best photos will be picked by Jan’s family to see who wins the prizes.”
Money raised from the event will go to the Aylesford Unit at Warwick hospital, where Jan was treated before he passed away, along with national charity, Cancer Research.
Apart from being eager to support such a worthwhile cause, Angling Times columnist Steve Ringer needed little excuse to get involved in the event.
He said: “Jan has always been one of my angling idols. He gave me my big break early in my career when he asked me to join Shimano. I still have the letter he sent me to this day.
“Jan was always there for me with advice during my career, and I will never be able to thank him enough for that. He was one of angling’s few nice guys.”
Tommy Pickering is another angler who needs little reason to do something for Jan.
The England Feeder Team manager has also offered his services to the campaign. He said: “I don’t know any anglers that haven’t heard of Jan Porter, and it’s a great cause too.
“I fished with and against him a lot over the years – I had so much respect for him and he was such a top bloke.”