Sixth Annual Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament to Benefit Tidewell Foundation Set for April 20-21

Joann Day will never forget the day her son, Chad, fell in love with fishing. 

“I remember the first snook he caught. He came running up, ‘Mom! Mom! Look!’ I think the fish was as big as him. After that, he was always out there fishing,” she said. “Chad was very outgoing, lots of energy. He just always loved the outdoors.” 

It was a shock to Chad’s family when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, in 2014. After a 17-month battle against the disease, he died at age 24 under Tidewell Hospice care on May 16, 2015. 

Chad spent his final two weeks at Tidewell’s Bradenton Hospice House. Joann stayed there, too, as did Chad’s cat, Hazel. Thanks to community donations, the Days did not have to pay for the care they received. 

When Joann considered how she could repay Tidewell, a member of Empath Health, for the care and compassion she and Chad received, she knew exactly how to honor Chad’s memory. In 2017, she organized the first Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament. 

The sixth annual tournament will be held April 20 and 21, 2024, at Tarpon Bay Grill & Tiki Bar, 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

“I just feel like my son is with me. I like to pay it forward because without Tidewell I don’t know what I would have done. I really don’t,” Joann said. 

The Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament has raised almost $50,000 for the Tidewell Foundation, including a record $20,559 last year. Proceeds support the care Tidewell Hospice provides to more than 10,000 patients and families every year. 

Delesa Morris, Tidewell Foundation President said  “We are grateful for Joann and her husband Alan Dormery, and their dedication to honoring Chad’s memory in such a meaningful way . Thank you for providing a platform for the community to come together, share in fond memories, and celebrate Chad’s life through something he loved dearly.” 

This year’s Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament is a one-day catch-and-release tournament with a total of $6,000 in prize money. The captain’s meeting is at 3:00 pm Saturday, April 20. The tournament will begin after the meeting. 

From 11:00 am to 6:00 pm April 20 and from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm April 21 there will be several silent auctions and numerous raffle baskets, as well as a 50/50. One-hundred percent of proceeds go to Tidewell. These events are open to everyone, and raffle tickets can be purchased at the restaurant, 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, 34243. 

For more information about the tournament, or to donate, visit ChadDayProFishingTournaments.com.