Matthew Murphy’s love of fishing lives on

Nobody loved the start of the annual fishing season more than Matthew Murphy.

The Bonshaw man, who lost his battle with depression two years ago at age 19, would wake before the sun and head to his favorite fishing hole at Carragher’s Pond. He and his family would fuel up with a hot breakfast at the annual Bonshaw Fishermen's Breakfast.

“The summer before he died he and I were out in the dark with the flashlights looking for the fattest dew worms,” said his mother, Penny Murphy. “It was a great family tradition for us; we never caught many fish but we always had fun.”

The Fishermen's Breakfast has been held held at Bonshaw Community Center for more than 20 years. For the past two years the event has been held in Murphy’s memory. This year, Matthew’s father Ronald and a group of friends are working to make sure the Matthew Murphy Memorial Fishermen's Breakfast is bigger and better than ever.

Their goal is to raise money – and awareness – about bullying, depression, and teen suicide.

The community has rallied to donate all of the food, volunteers do the cooking and serving, and all proceeds will go to support Prince Edward Island mental health services . 

“The whole community is involved; they all loved Matthew and can’t believe it happened,” Penny Murphy said.

Matthew always had his hook in the water as soon as possible on opening day each year, said his lifelong friend Bailie Perry.

“He loved the peace and quiet of it; all his cares in the world were gone.”

Murphy was a talented welder. His friends called him “Mr. Fix It".  He was bullied quite seriously in school, and so, last year’s breakfast proceeds went to support a scholarship in Murphy’s name for a Bluefield High student who works to combat bullying and also expresses an interest in the trades or an apprentice program.

The breakfast begins at 4 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15.