There aren’t many more joyous occasions then when children join a loved one for a fun activity they can enjoy together. There’s a wide range of different activities that mean so much to them based off the time they get to spend with each other. For James Barnhart and his daughter Shelby, that memorable activity was fishing. Their shared love of fishing led her father to create an event held this year to honor her memory.
Over the summer, James organized the Poles for Kids event, held on September 2 at the Bobtown Municipal Park. It was a wonderful day of fishing with a meal, with roasted chicken for everyone to enjoy. Every child age 16 and under got a free fishing pole, and any child under age seven also got a new tackle box to enjoy along with the fishing pole. The event was open to everyone and allowed them to enjoy a day of fishing without needing a fishing license from 10 in the morning until six in the afternoon. Along with the fishing and food, they also had live music from Slim Pickens.
The leftover poles and other fishing items are being donated to the Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital. They will be given to the hospitalized children so that they, too, can enjoy a day of fishing. Many people donated to make the event possible, providing items for the event or contributing their time to help, or giving money – all in an effort to make the event a great success.
Prior to the event this year, James had gone fishing on September 2 every year since Shelby had passed away. He wanted to remember her by doing something that she loved to do.
Shelby passed away on September 2, 2018, at the young age of 13 after a five-year battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 WILMS cancer, one of the most common cancers in young children, at only eight years old. WILMS cancer is a type of cancer that occurs mostly in children, and it affects the kidneys of the diagnosed person. At stage four it typically has spread through more than just the kidneys, going through the blood and impacting other organs and body parts away from the kidneys. To combat the cancer, Shelby went through several different types of treatment. She went through several surgeries, many rounds of chemo and radiation, and a stem cell transplant. She battled for five years before she passed away from the cancer five years ago.
Although Shelby passed away, her memory lives on through all the lives that she touched, from her family and the friends that she made during her time in school at West Greene, as well as those touched by the contributions of Poles for Kids. Those children will now have memories of fishing with their loved ones that they can cherish forever.
The event will be every year on the Saturday before Labor Day and will be called “Shelby’s Poles for Kids” in memory of all victims of childhood cancer.