March of Dimes bass fishing tournament

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - It's time to get out your fishing gear and head to Suffolk's Lone Star Lakes Park, Saturday!

"This weekend is our 6th annual March of Dimes Benefit Bass Fishing Tournament," says Park Ranger Sergeant, J.R. Ruggiero.

Ruggiero founded the tournament in honor of one of the loves of his life.

"We started in in 2005 when my daughter was born prematurely. Born at 2lbs, 4oz and spent 25 days in the NICU at CHKD and that's when I finally realized the important of March of Dimes.  Seeing the nurses and just hearing more about the March of Dimes, I knew when we left and brought my daughter home, I needed to do something to let the public know the importance of the March of Dimes of Southampton Roads."

The rules are simple.

"It's a regular fishing tournament. You're fishing out a boat. It's one or two people per boat. We charge a $25 entry fee and half of those proceeds, $10 of it goes to the March of Dimes and then the other $10 goes to the winners and $5 for the largest fish caught. They need their own tackle, artificial lures only, and a fishing license and you can participate.

This is just one way to raise money because most of these organizations, they don't have the funding they really need to perform these duties," says Ruggiero.

It's truly a Hometown Hotspot you don't want to miss.  The March of Dimes Bass Fishing Tournament begins Saturday, May 7, at 6:30 in the morning and ends at 2:00 in the afternoon.