...so hear ya go, for those of you who aren't in an area where you can get the Coastal Angler Magazine Ladies’ Landing Brandon Thornton Benefit Redfish Tournament, The Tournament with a Purpose By Robin ‘FishyGirl’ Folsom It all started 4 years ago with one very sick little boy and a man with a heart of gold. Curtis Wright saw a family that needed his help and he formulated a plan to make it happen – a fishing tournament among friends. It was the perfect way to raise a few dollars and get some folks together for a good cause, but not even Curtis could predict what would happen next. Once Curtis had decided he could do it, he needed to get some help. That help came pouring in from every direction when he posted his idea on several local internet fishing forums. The next thing Curtis knew, he had a full scale tournament with more prizes than even he knew what to do with. This little get together of friends was turning out to be more than anyone could have anticipated. When Skeeter Lagoon’s Bait and Tackle in Titusville jumped in, the location was set. That first year over 100 people showed up to give support to a family most of them didn’t even know; to help a family with a young boy who had cancer surrounding his little heart that doctors weren’t sure what to do with. Now in its 4th year, the concept has grown to an annual tournament, and its namesake, 8 year old Brandon Thornton’s cancer is in remission. This year for the first time the family in need is different, but the requirement is the same. This year that family belongs to a young man named Chris. Chris, a vibrant 10 years old, has Acute T Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He has been fighting the deadly decease for over 5 years with ups and downs that would make a ride on the Space Shuttle look like a walk in the park. With Bandon’s family back to a ‘normal’ state, they suggested that Curtis work with another family, and that family belongs to Chris. Being held on June 10th this year out of laceName w:st="on">KennedylaceName> laceType w:st="on">PointlaceType> laceType w:st="on">ParklaceType> in Titusville, the tournament will draw fisherman from all walks of life. 100% of the proceeds will be given to Chris’s family. It is a redfish spot tournament, which means it isn’t the biggest fish that wins, but the fish within slot limit (18” – 27”) that has the most spots. It makes the tournament more luck than skill. All fish will be returned to the waters of the Indian River to swim another day, much like we are hoping for Chris – to be released from his cancer to play another day. There will be a captain’s meeting on Friday, June 9th at Skeeter Lagoon’s Bait and Tackle on Garden Street in Titusville at 6:00pm. There are more raffle prized than I can even list here, but all are donated by not just local but national manufactures, as well. This year’s grand prize is the same as last year, a custom Gheenoe ready to fish. Last year the winner auctioned off the boat and gave the money back to the family, an incredible gesture in its self. Not to mention that the person who purchased it then turned around and gave it back to the tournament organizers to re-raffle again for the family. Now those are some big-hearted fisherman! If you are interested in participating, you can go www.skeeterlagoons.com or contact Curtis Wright costefishnt@4everwright.com 321-863-4692. 
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