WILKESVILLE, Ohio—Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare and devastating neurodegenerative disorder that results in the progressive loss of muscle control. It’s better known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease” after being contracted by baseball’s legendary hall of famer in the 1930s. More recently, it took the life of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. Recently National Professional Fishing League angler Chad Poteat of Mount Airy, North Carolina has been diagnosed with ALS, and it is already impacting his quality of life.
“Our hearts go out to Chad and his family,” said NPFL President Brad Fuller. “He’s been a member of the NPFL family since joining the league in 2024, and we want to support him in any way we can. That starts with a fundraising event. All proceeds will go to Chad and his family as they battle ALS.”
The Chad Poteat ALS Fundraiser tournament involves NPFL professional anglers who will be taking donor co-anglers out on Cherokee Lake on Wednesday, May 21. The tournament will launch at the Cherokee Dam boat ramp on Renfro Road in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
Two paired donor co-anglers will be randomly assigned to a professional’s boat, and the boat will compete as a team. There is a three bass limit.
A donation of $200 per pair of co-anglers is required to participate and they will be paired together with an NPFL professional. Dozens of NPFL pros are donating their time, expertise and energies to the event, but space is limited. The top three teams as determined by cumulative weight will earn prize packages.
Basic NPFL tournament rules apply. Co-angler participants must supply their own gear and personal flotation devices. They should be on-site to meet their assigned professional angler no later than 7:00 a.m. ET at the Cherokee Dam boat ramp. Official launch begins at 8:00 a.m. ET and the tournament ends at 12:00 noon ET.
To participate, complete the online registration form. The entry fee is $200 per paired co-anglers and all proceeds go to Chad Poteat and his family. Deadline for entries is Monday, May 19 at 8:00 a.m. ET.
