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Our Story
The Story Behind Mission Fishin’
One Fishing Trip Changed Everything
What began as a father’s desire to share the water with his son became a mission bringing hope on and off the water to more than 1,000 families.
Chapter One
The Son I Couldn’t Wait to Meet
When Alison and I learned we were expecting our third son, I imagined all the things fathers dream about doing with their boys—wrestling, playing ball, and spending days together on the water.
Joshua arrived 11 weeks premature and spent his first 30 days in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Chapter Two
From a Doctor’s Prognosis to God’s Purpose
At 10 months old, Joshua was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, Cortical Vision Impairment, Epilepsy, and a Gut Motility Disorder.
Doctors told us he would never walk, would likely never talk, and would depend on a feeding tube for nutrition. In a moment, excitement gave way to worry, uncertainty, and fear.
The years that followed brought challenges our family never expected. Yet through every uncertain season, we held onto God’s promise that Joshua’s life had meaning and that his story would reveal God’s glory.
We did not yet understand how that promise would unfold.
Chapter Three
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
When Joshua was five, local fisherman and business owner RJ Boyle called with an invitation that would change our family forever.
RJ had traveled the world fishing. While sitting in an airport between trips, he saw a woman with a disability who reminded him of a childhood friend with a disability who had passed away.
In that moment, RJ knew he wanted to use what he had been given to create opportunities for people who might otherwise be left on the shore. The following week, he called us.
For the First Time
“No one had to stay behind.”
My older sons and I fished whenever we had the opportunity, but Joshua usually had to stay home. I did not know how his wheelchair would work on a boat or how he would respond to the movement of the water.
But that first trip was incredible. Joshua loved it. On the water, he experienced a peace and freedom unlike anything we had seen before. For the first time, Alison and I could share one of our family’s greatest passions with all three of our sons.
One Family’s Experience Became a Mission
Bringing Hope On & Off the Water
We knew other families deserved the same opportunity. What began with one invitation and one unforgettable day became Mission Fishin’.
For more than 13 years, our volunteer-led organization has provided no-cost fishing and boating experiences, practical resources, family blessings, and meaningful community support. Every experience still carries the heart of that first trip: belonging, joy, connection, and hope.
13+ Years of Service
1,000+ Families Served
100% Volunteer-Led
Countless Lives Impacted
A Personal Note
Every Life Has Purpose
Joshua’s life continues to remind us that a diagnosis does not determine a person’s purpose.
Mission Fishin’ exists because someone invited our family onto the water. Today, we have the privilege of extending that same invitation to others while also bringing hope far beyond the boat.
Thank you for becoming part of our story.
— Tony Davis
Founder and Executive Director
Founder and Executive Director