On the fishing industry’s biggest stage, Jake Klopfenstein received the 2024 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award for his efforts to share the sport with pediatric cancer patients.
Presented by former Bassmaster Elite and 2002 Bassmaster Classic winner Jay Yelas, who serves as C.A.S.T. for Kids Executive Director, the award honors a B.A.S.S. member who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to serving in areas such as special needs children, abuse survivors, veterans and others with substantial challenges.
Hailing from Tampa, Fla., 19-year-old Klopfenstein founded Angling for Relief in 2018. The organization brings fishing opportunities to kids diagnosed with cancer. Klopfenstein offers a Dry Fishing program (land-based casting activities taken to kids in hospitals), Fishing Is Relief Family Seawall Fishing, and inshore fishing with a captain.
“Kids fighting cancer don’t get to be kids,” said Klopfenstein, the award’s youngest recipient. “We bring back ‘being a kid.’ We bring some light into their lives.”
Klopfenstein’s Angling for Relief vision was inspired by his friend Ryan Baker, who fought Ewing Sarcoma for 18 months, before succumbing to the illness.
For information and support opportunities, visit https://anglingforrelief.org/.
