Chris Hamilton, a friend to many in the sport, was recently paralyzed in a swimming accident while on vacation. He's a resident of Paris, Tenn. and is currently in the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, where he's undergoing surgery. A benefit tournament, dinner, and auction has been created to help with his expenses. The tournament is slated for Aug. 18 at Kentucky Lake, with the dinner and auction to immediately follow.
Strike King's Crispin Powley, a good friend of Hamilton's, has helped spearhead the effort. "The tournament will guarantee $2,000 to the 1st-place finisher and will pay back 80% to places 2 through 10," Powley said. "We hope to have a good turnout for it, but the highlight of the event will be the dinner and auction at nearby Lakewood School. The list of auction items is growing every day, but right now we know also have guided duck hunts, guided saltwater trips, and the biggest array of hunting and fishing merchandise ever to be auctioned off here."
Powley noted the auction is open to everyone, not just anglers registered in the tournament. "Chris is a talented carpenter and if everyone knew him, this would also be the biggest tournament ever held here," he added. "He's the kind of guy who'd do anything for anybody if they were in trouble. Chris needs help and there are a lot of people working on this event and hoping for a turnout that'll really help him."
Thus far, pros Sam Lashlee, Luke Clausen, Scott Martin and Clay Dyer, Kelly Jordon, Andy Morgan, and Derek Remitz have donated trips for the auction. Ray Scott Outdoors has also gotten involved.
Key Info
> Anglers will gather early for the event at Paris Landing State Park Aug. 18, but should contact Powley for more information. Powley's contact information is: (731) 336-1663, cpowley@strikeking.com
> More details about the tournament, as well as a list of the items up for auction (which includes hunting products in addition to fishing trips and gear) can be found at www.HelpChrisHamilton.com.
