Envision being able to smell the salt in the air and hold the fishing pole in your hands, but never having the ability to experience the sights of the ocean or the beautiful fish that you just reeled in.

On Oct. 21, the N.C. Lions Club VIP Fishing Tournament gathered visually impaired persons and their guests at different locations on the Outer Banks. The event was held at Kitty Hawk, Avalon, Nags Head and Jennette’s fishing piers and hosted over 360 visually impaired as well as 163 caregivers. Miss Oregon Inlet and Chrystal Dawn were also sponsoring boats of the tournament. As the world’s largest fishing tournament for the blind and visually impaired, the event attracted people from over 77 countries, ages 12 to 101, according to Executive Director Gwen White. The tournament was also a local opportunity for many, including student and adult volunteers and members of the FFHS LEO Club.

“I always believe in helping out the community and I was new to First Flight last year so I thought it was the perfect time to get involved,” said FFHS LEO Club Adviser Donna Garcia.

After a positive experience at last year’s tournament, Garcia made the decision to return to the event this year.

“Kids really love it,” Garcia said. “Last year we went and they had the best time and made the best friends. Some have even stayed in touch with people they helped. It was a great experience for them and for me as well.”

LEO Club members attended the event this year at Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills. Over the course of the day, members along with other volunteers helped the VIPs with rigging poles, reeling in lines, and contacting the tournament’s scorekeepers. Many students expressed feelings of satisfaction from their personal experiences as a volunteer at the tournament.

After volunteering at the tournament in 2013, junior Kyle Neff decided to return this year as well.

“The experience is great. It’s a great way to make new friends and help out the community,” Neff said.

First year volunteers including freshman Evey Rameriz also felt that the event was an enjoyable opportunity.

“It really gives you a perspective of how hard it is for some people,” Ramirez said. “It makes you feel good to be out here helping them.”

Garcia believes that along with helping the VIPs came valuable life lessons.

“I think this opportunity has changed (LEO Club members) in a positive way,” Garcia said. “They have learned a lot about people who were visually impaired who they thought were helpless, and how they’re actually getting help from these people in how to fish and how to do a lot of things that they didn’t think they were capable of doing.”

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