8th annual Reelin’ for Research tournament is this weekend

Proceeds benefit UNC Children’s Hospital and Childhood Cancer Research

The 8th annual Reelin’ for Research offshore fishing tournament benefiting the UNC Children’s Hospital and Childhood Cancer Research is set to cast off this Saturday, April 30th, out of Morehead City, NC.

Reelin’ for Research is a one day offshore fishing tournament started in 2009 in memory of Tony Montana. Tony passed away from cancer in 2005. The focus of Reelin’ for Research is to raise money for Children’s Cancer Research through this annual fishing tournament. Over the past 7 years the tournament has raised nearly 1.5 million dollars for this cause.

The Mission – To provide a self-sustaining charity fishing tournament known by many as one of the best tournaments on the east coast. To continue to raise significant funds each year for children’s cancer research until a cure is ultimately found.

The History – A group of Tony Montana’s close family and friends decided to start a fishing tournament in 2009 in memory of Tony. They asked themselves, “What would Tony want?” This led to a unanimous decision to start this tournament for the children! Tony believed that he had the opportunityto live such a wonderful life and experience many great things, but that many children with cancer are being deprived of that chance.

Why Children’s Cancer Research – Cancer is a horrible disease that no one should ever have to battle, least of all children.

Where the money goes – As of 2014 and moving forward, $100,000 goes toward the Tony Montana Fellowship Fund via the NC Children’s Promise within the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Each year a doctor specializing in pediatric oncology and hematology is awarded the fellowship to support their research. Dr. Gold, Director of the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the hospital, helped us decide on a fellowship because he believes that fellowships are primary in the effort to cure childhood cancer. We rely on Dr. Gold, with his many years of experience and his every day involvement with children battling cancer, to decide on who is awarded this fellowship each year.

The remainder of the funds go into an endowment with the purpose of eventually funding the fellowship into perpetuity.

The Goal – In 2014, we reached our goal of raising $1,000,000 in just our sixth year of existence! With this milestone surpassed, we have now set a goal of building our recently formed endowment to the point where the interest earned off of the principle will fund the fellowship forever.

Click here for more information, including the full weekend schedule.