Fishing for a Cause

The Manasquan Inlet will be jammed with patriotic fisherman on Friday and Saturday as they take part in what is the first and hopefully annual Warriors for Warriors Charity Shark Tournament. Featuring US Special Forces combat warrior veterans the idea behind the tournament is to raise funds and support the needs of other combat warrior veterans and each year a different charity will be designated.

The inaugural shark tournament will support Operation Restored Warrior which focuses on healing veterans of PTSD and preventing suicides which has become a national epidemic with some 22 veterans taking their own lives every day. Operation Restored Warrior does not seek to help combat veterans,they heal them.

Dave Lesperance, a local resident and fisherman has organized the 24-hour shark tournament along with former US Navy Seals Rich Graham and Shannon Rusch.
Their goal is to have 100 boats compete for cash prizes and it all begins Friday after a Captain’s meeting at River Rock Restaurant and Marina Bar in Brick.

Weigh-ins will take place at Crystal Point Yacht Club beginning at noon on Saturday. While most of the money raised will come through entry fees there will be several special events at River Rock including a screening of the movie “Lone Survivor” tonight, an All-Day Fundraiser Saturday and a Tournament After Party on Saturday night beginning at 7pm which will include a live auction.

All of the information can be found at warriorstournament.com.

For those who just want to support an incredible cause then simply text the word “warriors” to 4144 and make a donation. By the way more information on Operation Restored Warrior is available at operationrestoredwarrior.org.

I am not a soccer fan but you can be sure I will be following the World Cup which gets underway in Brazil today when the host country meets Croatia in the only game on the opening day schedule. This is the Super Bowl for the rest of the world and in many cities in this country taverns and bars will be filled with soccer-crazed fans over the next few weeks.

Of course there will even more excitement if the U.S. somehow manages to get past pool play but that is doubtful considering they are matched up against Ghana, Portugal and Germany.