BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 24, 2007) - The sixth annual Greater Niagara BassEye Celebrity Challenge, a waterfront fundraiser and bass fishing tournament held July 11-12 at the NFTA Boat Harbor produced more than $154,000 to benefit the Western New York chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).
"We are happy to report that we exceeded our fundraising goal this year," said Bob Rich, Jr., who co-chaired the event along with Mindy Rich, both of Rich's Products, and James Bokor Sr., Robert James Sales. "In the past six years we have raised over $670,000 to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Western New York community has been so generous to this cause and we would like to thank them, our sponsors and the local fishing community for their continued support."
The tournament is part of the larger Redbone @ Large Celebrity Tournament Series. Approximately 30 Redbone Celebrity tournaments are held each year, and proceeds from all of the events benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).
Anglers, captains, sponsors and guests gathered for "Boats, Bait & Beer II," the tournament kick-off event held on July 11 under a large white tent at the NFTA Boat Harbor. The evening featured cuisine paired with finely brewed domestic and international beers. The night was highlighted by outstanding live and silent auctions, waterfront entertainment from the "Lakeside Blues Band," guest appearances by local celebrities and the Robertson and Bach oyster dig, where one lucky guest dug out the winning oyster and took home a pearl necklace.
More than 40 boats filled with 200 anglers and captains spent the day on Lake Erie for the catch-and-release, bass and walleye fishing tournament. Grand Champion Angler honors went to Greg Zaepfel, captained by Chris Cinelli; and the Grand Champion Team consisted of anglers Jim Zaepfel, Greg Zaepfel and Ron George, captained by Chris Cinelli.
"The money we raise through events like BassEye goes toward research and medical program that help give people with CF the quality of life and promise of a future they deserve," said Kelly Kopra, executive director of the Western New York chapter of CFF. "Every year that the event grows in popularity, we get that much closer to catching a cure for CF."
Sponsors for the 2007 Greater Niagara BassEye Celebrity Challenge included Rich's Products, Buffalo Bisons, Robert James Sales, Bass Pro Shops, Business First, WKBW Channel 7 and Regents Broadcasting.
Thanks to the financial support of events such as this tournament, the CFF has made tremendous progress in the field of research and care. The median age of survival for a person with CF has improved from early childhood in the 1950s to 36.8 years today. However, cystic fibrosis continues to be a critical health matter, as most individuals with the disease must battle chronic lung infections for their entire lives. At least one person dies from CF each day.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to assure the means to cure and control this genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of approximately 30,000 children and young adults in the United States.
Redbone founder Gary Ellis and his wife, Susan, have passionately supported the Foundation not only because of its innovative and effective research efforts, but also for a very personal reason: their daughter, Nicole, was diagnosed with CF as an infant in the mid-1980s. Nicole is now a college graduate making her mark in the corporate world, and she has witnessed - first hand - the advances made in the treatment of the disease.
The 2007 Greater Niagara BassEye Celebrity Challenge has grown from the seed planted in 1988, when a handful of anglers, fishing guides and sports celebrities organized a tournament in the Florida Keys village of Islamorada. The group focused on just two of the available species: redfish and bonefish. The ground rules were simple - to win, the angler must catch and release at least one of each.
In the past 19 years, Redbone tournaments have contributed approximately $10 million to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The inaugural Islamorada event was a great success, and the "redbone" moniker was born. The current format of the individual tournaments can include freshwater, offshore and flats fishing.
The environments in which the Redbone events take place have played a major role in their success. The Florida Keys, for instance, contain miles of clear flats with acres of turtle grass and marl, features that create a welcoming habitat and a diverse fishery that includes bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish and snook. Tournaments are also held in such diverse locations as Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Costa Rica, PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio, the Bahamas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Louisiana.