VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — 13News Now is shining a light on organizations making a special impact in our community.
Hooked on Hope VB is a nonprofit organization that helps pediatric cancer patients and their families catch special memories together.
For Mike Robey and his family, quality time is spent on the water with fishing rods in hand.
“If we weren’t doing something else like Boy Scouts or dance, we were always fishing,” Robey said.
But, in 2015, the hobby became a lifeline. A doctor diagnosed his then 2½-year-old daughter Lauren with leukemia.
“We just really wanted to have an escape, to do other things and forget about the world of cancer,” Robey said. “So fishing was always our escape.”
After treatment, Robey said Lauren is healthy. The experience inspired him to start Hooked on Hope VB.
“We provide fishing and fun for pediatric cancer families,” Robey said. “Our main way to do that is through charters.”
Robey said boat captains and volunteers in the community help families leave their worries on land for a day.
“We usually do a four-hour charter trip, a cooler full of water, a bag full of snacks, t-shirts,” Robey said. “We have amazing captains who continue to love on our families. Take them out there just to give them an opportunity to catch their memories and just forget about everything else that is going on.”
Captain Eric Meyers said he's always eager to set sail for the nonprofit.
“I just can't get enough of just seeing the kids’ faces light up because I remember being like that when I was their age,” Meyers said. “When you put having to go through some of the stuff they have to go through, the fact that they are still smiling, able to have fun, it is awe-inspiring.”
13News Now and our parent company, TEGNA, wanted to help Robey expand his work in the community.
The TEGNA Foundation gave him a $6,000 grant to continue his mission.
Robey said the grant will give families much more than a fishing trip.
“It's really giving these families an opportunity to be together,” Robey said. “Most importantly, it’s not just about the kid who’s battling cancer; they have siblings, too. We never know who needs that trip the most. It would be the kid battling cancer, it could be the mom it could be the dad. We are just trying to create an environment for the whole family.”
Hooked on Hope is always looking to reel in more volunteers.