Fishing event is for children with disabilities

For the first time the O'Neill Forebay will hold a free event next month for children with disabilities.

Catch A Special Thrill for Kids, or CAST for Kids, is a day of fishing and outdoor entertainment for 7- to 14-year-olds with disabilities. The free event is sponsored by a number of organizations, including the California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and Game and California Department of Parks and Recreation.

"It's exciting for the kids and families," said coordinator David Lara.

"(Children with disabilities) rarely get to get out to the outdoors," he said.

CAST started a dozen years ago at Millerton Lake near Fresno, Lara said, and has since spread to Lake Perris near Glendale and Collins Lake near Gridley, among others in the state.

"This year, we're looking forward to having one at the Los Banos facility," Lara said.

For more on the event, go to www.castforkids.org, or contact Lara at (559) 230-3349 or Paul Young at (916) 376-1923.