A fun event that helps a Marion family honor their son through his love of fishing is returning this year.
MARION, Ill. (WSIL)-- A fun event that helps a Marion family honor their son through his love of fishing is returning this year.
The third annual Trace Bittle Bass Fishing Tournament will be at the Pyramid Acres Marina on Saturday. Trace Bittle鈥檚 mother, Missy, says this is the family鈥檚 way to keep his memory alive by helping the community.
鈥淚 miss him so bad, and I'm going to keep his name alive as long as I'm alive,鈥� Bittle said.
Bittle and her friend Ashley Weber are out placing flyers to spread the word about the annual fishing tournament that honors her son, who died in 2022 in a tragic single-car accident.
鈥淗e loved to fish, he loved to hunt, so this would be right up his alley. Can't think of a better way to honor him,鈥� Bittle said.
She says the money they are raising will go to Marion High School students through his scholarship fund.
鈥淭hat's where Trace went to school, and this year we're giving away 26 scholarships so far,鈥� Bittle said.
Bittle says her son was an active high school student, being a part of the baseball and golf teams.
鈥淗e's just so kind and giving and fun, and he likes to dance and sing and hunt and fish. Like the kid was just a ray of sunshine,鈥� Bittle said.
She says coming back to the Pyramid Acres Marina to host the tournament is also special because she has many memories of Trace there.
鈥淗e'd just be standing over there reeling in great big old fish. I've got tons of pictures of him catching those fish. And it was just such great memories, and he just brought so much joy to him,鈥� Bittle said.
Bittle's friend Weber says it's wonderful to see how the community rallies around their family.
鈥淚t's fun. Everybody's happy; everybody's doing something. Lots of togetherness, lots of family and friends come out, and you see how much he was loved,鈥� Weber said.
Bittle says with the event close to Easter, they are going to have the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt for the kids.
鈥淚t's just going to be a wonderful event. It's going to be fun. And that's what he was about,鈥� Bittle said.
Bittle says their fun starts with a pre-tournament kickoff and raffle at Just Add Water on Lake of Egypt Road on Friday, April 18th. And then on Saturday, they will have their annual fishing tournament.
