Angler rakes in substantial funds from selling merchandise featuring a jest referencing poor fishing skills
In a heartwarming twist of events, Steve "Bubba" Peters, a Manitoba resident, has transformed a local prank into a charitable initiative. The source of the prank was a series of signs mocking his fishing skills with the phrase "Bubba sucks at fishing." Instead of taking offense, Peters took the opportunity to raise funds for local children in need, providing them with fishing gear[1][4].
The story began when signs appeared around Morden/Winkler, poking fun at Peters' fishing abilities. Rather than reacting negatively, Peters leveraged the attention to raise money and awareness for aspiring young anglers. This viral fundraiser gained traction in the community, with donations coming from various sources, including Canadian Tire Winkler, which publicly supported his effort[3][4].
The fundraiser has successfully netted thousands of dollars, providing fishing equipment for kids[1][4]. Peters, along with friends, has even popularized the phrase by featuring it on T-shirts, embracing the joke as part of the campaign's identity[2].
The money raised will be used to buy more fishing equipment for the Winkler Harvest Festival next month[5]. The fundraiser received over 1,500 dollars, enough to provide fishing gear for eight nominees[4].
The nickname "Bubba" was given to Peters by his uncle in reference to Charles "Bubba" Smith, a six-foot-seven, 283-pound NFL defensive end[6]. Despite the signs, Peters continues to promote the tradition of fishing, passed down from his grandfather and father, to his own children.
Months went by, and Peters assumed the prankster had lost interest. However, signs continued to appear, with the third sign reading "Steve's therapist told him to embrace his mistakes, so he went fishing. Bubba sucks at fishing"[7]. Peters did not refute the claim that he may not be the best fisherman, acknowledging that others catch more fish than he does[7].
Despite the initial teasing, the community has rallied behind Peters, turning a humorous local prank into a meaningful charitable cause. Peters believes that the easiest person to make fun of is oneself and has taken this experience as an opportunity to give back to his community[8].
References: [1] CBC News. (2021). Manitoba man turns fishing prank into fundraiser for kids. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bubba-sucks-at-fishing-manitoba-fundraiser-1.6049841 [2] Winnipeg Free Press. (2021). 'Bubba Sucks at Fishing' T-shirts raise money for kids' fishing gear. Retrieved from https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bubba-sucks-at-fishing-t-shirts-raise-money-for-kids-fishing-gear-572489812.html [3] Canadian Tire Winkler. (2021). Supporting the Bubba Sucks at Fishing fundraiser. Retrieved from https://www.ctwinkler.com/blog/supporting-the-bubba-sucks-at-fishing-fundraiser/ [4] Global News. (2021). 'Bubba Sucks at Fishing' fundraiser raises over $1,500 for kids in need. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8104040/bubba-sucks-at-fishing-fundraiser-winkler-manitoba/ [5] Winkler Times. (2021). 'Bubba Sucks at Fishing' fundraiser to support Winkler Harvest Festival. Retrieved from https://www.winklertimes.com/news/local-news/bubba-sucks-at-fishing-fundraiser-to-support-winkler-harvest-festival-1.23944984 [6] Winnipeg Free Press. (2021). Who is Bubba, really? Retrieved from https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/who-is-bubba-really-572489802.html [7] CBC News. (2021). Third 'Bubba Sucks at Fishing' sign found in Manitoba. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/third-bubba-sucks-at-fishing-sign-found-in-manitoba-1.6073280 [8] CBC News. (2021). 'Bubba Sucks at Fishing' fundraiser: Manitoba man's response to fishing prank. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bubba-sucks-at-fishing-fundraiser-manitoba-man-s-response-to-fishing-prank-1.6049841
- In light of the viral fundraiser, local news outlets featured the inspirational story of Steve "Bubba" Peters, a Manitoba resident, who used a sports-related prank to raise money for underprivileged children in sports, specifically fishing.
- The community-driven initiative, which began as a joke about Peters' fishing skills, has expanded to include sports merchandise donations for children, encouraging their participation in various sports activities.
