Like many parents with young children, I dream about the day when my son Jacob (now 2 years old) will be able to fish with me. I remember how much fun I had growing up fishing with my parents and how much it has meant to us as a family over the years. I find myself hoping he will enjoy fishing and will want to spend time with me, as he grows older. I think about how much fun we will have and how we will become closer through these types of activities as he grows older. I know many of you that enjoy fishing and have small children can relate to my excitement. I also believe that many of you with small children can relate to the to the Redbone Tournament and the reason this tournament came into being. My son is as healthy as he can be, but reading about people that have children born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) had me thinking about just how lucky I was to have a healthy son and be able to think about our experiences together as he grows up. As I read about the Redbone Tournament I was truly awestruck by the commitment one family has made to help find a cure and make a difference in the lives of people suffering from CF.
The Redbone Tournament was founded in 1988 by Gary and Susan Ellis. Their daughter, Nicole was born with CF and the family began to work to fight for their daughter’s life. Cystic Fibrosis is the number one genetic killer of children and young adults in the country. CF causes the body to form thick mucus that clogs the lungs and causes breathing problems, lung infections, and fatal lung damage. There currently is no cure for this disease. When the Redbone Tournament began most children did not leave into their teens. With new research the median age for survival is 31. With much hard work the Redbone Tournament has not only raised people’s awareness of CF, but has also raided over 1 million dollars in the last 10 years for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The Redbone Tournament has a unique blend of celebrities, local guides, and everyday anglers in each tournament. They fish in tea