30th Kolar Toyota Fishing Tournament Raises Record $315,000 for ALS

DULUTH, Minn. – The 30th annual Kolar Toyota Fishing Tournament on Island Lake raises $315,650 to help people living with ALS.

The Kolar Toyota Fishing Tournament on Island Lake has brought anglers out for 30 years to ‘cast for a cure’ for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) also known as ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease.’ This year, the tournament reeled in a record $315,650 for the local ALS non-profit Never Surrender Inc.

The money stays local, according to Never Surrender Inc. board member David Solon, who said they work to better the lives of those with ALS. “We assist Essentia Health in Duluth and the ‘main-U’ in Minneapolis,” said Solon, “each one [gets] a check for $500,000 a year. So that’s $1 million for people that have ALS, but they don’t qualify for the experimental drugs. Maybe they’ve had it too long or they’re too old, or whatever reason.”

Never Surrender also helps pay for medical devices and assistive technologies that can help those who have ALS in their day-to-day lives.