Fishing competition at the Ultimate Sport Show—Grand Rapids, March 15 to 18, to benefit Kevin VanDam’s favorite charity – the March of Dimes.

Kevin VanDam, four-time BASSMASTER Classic champion and currently the world’s top angler with more than $5 million in tournament earnings, does everything in a big way.  But the “big catch” at the Ultimate Sport Show—Grand Rapids, March 15 to 18, is the March of Dimes, KVD’s favorite charity. 

The Kalamazoo Division of the March of Dimes will receive all proceeds from the KVD Cast Off, to be held daily on Lake Ultimate, the show’s 110,000-gallon indoor lake.  Competition times are Thursday, 4 to 5 and 8 to 9:30; Friday, 1:30 to 2:30 and 8:30 to 9:30; Saturday, 1 to 2 and 8 to 9:30; and Sunday, 11 to 12 and 3:30 to 5. 

Contestants pay $10 each for three chances to “put it in the cup” for a $50 prize during timed, two-minute-long, side-by-side competition.  The event is first-come, first-served with no preregistration required.  All contestants enter a drawing (which includes entrants from the earlier Ultimate Fishing Show—Detroit for the Grand Prize Drawing:  the chance to fish with Kevin during a sanctioned evening tournament this summer near his Kalamazoo home.

The National Bass Anglers Association (NBAA) will announce the tournament date and location.  For more information, check in at the NBAA booth during the downtown Grand Rapids show at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.  

The March of Dimes is all about babies—those born healthy and those who need our help to survive and thrive.  Kevin VanDam and his wife Sherry are the parents of twin boys who were born four months prematurely.  They credit the research and educational support provided by the March of Dimes for helping keep their sons alive when they were born too soon and too small some 14 years ago.

Today, the boys are healthy, active teenagers, thanks to the mission March of Dimes.

Show hours are Thursday, 3 to 9:30; Friday, 11 am to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; Sunday, 10 to 5.  Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 14.  There is no charge for children 5 and under.  For more information, go to http://www.showspan.com/USG/Home.aspx

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