Ian Darler is hoping to catch 200lbs of fish in 10 hours
Author: Dan MasonPublished 23 minutes ago
The head groundsman at Cambridge United is hoping to break a record total he’s raised for charity by catching 200lbs worth of fish in 10 hours.
In the first Big Fish Off in 2024, Ian Darler raised £2,000 for CPSL Mind before going on to earn more than £13,000 for several charities at last year’s event.
Ian will hope history repeats itself when he takes to the lakes at Frasers Fishery in Little Downham near Ely today (Thursday).
“There’s nothing better than sitting by a lakeside to switch off or clear your head; especially when you’ve groups of anglers there and they start talking, it’s surprising how they do come out with the various issues they’re dealing with,” he said.
“If we can expand it and help one more person, it’s got to be a good thing.”
‘Sponge for mental health’
Ian – who is also stadium manager at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium – is looking to catch the equivalent of a person weighing 14.2 stone, and will have an independent verifier to confirm what he’s caught.
The challenge was set up by Kevin Johnson of CB Groundworks & Construction Limited, who helps set up a charity game at the Abbey each year.
This year’s challenge will raise money for East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH), Cambridge United Foundation, Cambridge Acorn Project and CPSL Mind.
It comes as Ian suffered from mental health issues after a serious accident at work in 2013, but has since recovered.
“It took me 18 months to own up to the fact I was in trouble and it took me to a dark place, but now the amount of people who come and ask for help is mind-blowing,” he said.
“I never thought I would end up being someone who’d be a sponge for other people’s mental health.
“Anything to do with raising money for charity, especially for mental health, I was never going to turn it down; I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll smash last year’s £13,000 raised but you never know.”
Charity hails Ian’s ‘remarkable’ impact
Ian – who is approaching his 48th season at the Abbey Stadium – was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to Cambridge United and his work with the Cambridge Charity Fundraisers.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Ian for choosing to support us once again through his latest Big Fish Off challenge,” Erin Henry, EACH’s senior corporate fundraiser for Cambridgeshire and West Essex, said.
“His commitment to fundraising over so many years has been nothing short of remarkable, and we’re continually inspired by the time, energy and passion he puts into helping local charities like ours.”
