Pink fishing rods raise money for breast cancer patients
2/17/2010 8:49:50 PM
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By Brian S. Peterson
Associated Press

BRAINERD, Minn. — Ever so slowly, the ice-covered lakes will give way to the open-water fishing season. And there it will be, in Gary Roach's boat.

The pink fishing rod.

No, it's not for Roach, better known as Mr. Walleye. It's for his wife. And, ultimately, for his wife's sister. And for women suffering from breast cancer throughout the Brainerd lakes area.

Mrs. Walleye is making sure of that.

In 1998, Beverly Roach lost her sister, Diane, to breast cancer. Beverly remembers all too well her sister's constant chemotherapy treatments and wanted to do something for women who are going through the same thing.

Roach and her four sisters and brother grew up in the Brainerd area, so she wanted to keep it local, too. And to help with everyday needs, such as money for gas or a baby sitter for local women battling breast cancer.

So last spring, after several years of contemplating the idea, Roach — with the help of her husband and ProLine Fishing Inc. — marketed a line of Mrs. Walleye fishing rods, with $5 from the sale of each $60 rod going to the Pink Ribbon Cupboard, a nonprofit fund set up to provide emergency financial assistance for families undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Sales of the pink ProLine rods — designed especially for women by Gary Roach and based on the popular Mr. Walleye Series — raised $1,425 for the Pink Ribbon Cupboard. So in less than a year, with little more than word-of-mouth advertising, according to Beverly Roach, nearly 300 Mrs. Walleye rods were sold.

"rest of the story
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmana...?z=15&a=439390

Pink rod link
http://www.prolinefishing.net/