What the Capt. Eddy Haneman Tounament is about.

[gottaflylee]

"Fellow fisherman,

This is a gentlemen's tournament. The purpose of it is to promote inshore fishing and local fellowship on our beach. Please fish safely and have a great time. We would like to dedicate this tournament to past charter boat captains and mates. Most fishermen have been inspired by these guys and the fish they have caught, along with the stories of their battles. Thanks for your support & participation.

May many Sailfish dance for you,

C.E.H.S.T. Committee"



Its not about the money or the trophies (although it is nice to have mine), its about helping others who are in need. We chose a family who's child is in distress each year and try to help out what little we can. Hopefully we can raise 3 to5 thousand to help with the home bills and the travel expensive to go back and fourth to the hospital or whatever.

The first year someone stepped up and handed their winnings to the family that need help. That tradition has been carried on by most of the tournament winners. This has been a wonderful thing to do and has helped some of the families so much.

John Boy of the "John Boy & Billie" show has been one of the people who has stepped up to the plate and helped us out so much. Each year he has had "Big Show Foods" come and feed 150+ people for the awards ceremony as well as helped the families in need. In person he is not the person you know on the air. John is one of the most caring and kind hearted people that I have ever had the pleasure of calling them my friend.

This is not a plea for you to donate money, heck what this site has done and continues to do to help others is unreal. My hat is off to all of you for the kindness you show. I did not want to promote this tournament early this year because I did not want to take away from the "Bartar, Boys & Girls Tournament" which is another great thing that we - you have done and I was proud to be a part of this year.

The main reason that I am posting this now is I want you to know what our tournament is about and I hope that next year we can get more boats to enter it. Like the "Barter" entry fee is not much $420.00 and it is designed for small boats to be able to fish it which is why we put boundaries on it. No Gulf Stream fishing. 25 miles out is as far as you can go. Historically each year the tournament is won with in 18 miles or less from the beach. This year I was within 12 miles of the beach both days and won it.

None of the 3 or 4 of us that work on this each year get a dime out of it for what we do nor do we want anything. Some people have said some hurtful things about us and all I can say is if you want to look at the books come on. We will open them for you. This is going to happen when you do anything like this and it does not bother me in the least cause my heart is good. All I want to do is make this the best tournament we can and do the most help for those we try to help.

So next year if you can, please come and fish it with us and have some great fun for a couple of days and meet more good people who are working for a great cause. For a look at the tournament the web page I try and do for the tournament is http://www.gottaflyguideservice.com/page20.html this page. I try to keep it updated and correct but I was told the other day I have to make a couple more changes. Hope I can get that done in a few days.

As for my win this year, I call it the blind Squirrel nut theory. I could win Pirates Cove or Big Rock and not be as humbled as I am by the win of this tournament. I was going to post my win and all the details that go with it but for me the above and below is what it is about.

The story below, do NOT read it if you do not want to be saddened or in my case cry the first time I read it, Is about the child Sawyer Cox and his family we tried to help this year.




This is Sawyer's story as told by his Mom



We knew Sawyer was going to be our little heart breaker. When I was 5 months pregnant with Sawyer we were told that he had a enlarged kidney. At that time I had to under go some genetic testing. This was done to rule out various diseases and disorders, one being Down Syndrome. The next few months were tuff not knowing what to expect. One thing was for sure, no matter what,we were going to love and care for our little angle.

By the time sawyer was 4 he had undergone 2 surgeries to repair his kidney. Sawyer made outstanding improvements. We were still a little concerned about his height coming from a tall family. What he lacked in height he made up for in stamina, coordination and sweetness.

Things were going great till 2003 when my husband began to complain about loss of hand movement and coordination. This was tuff on him not only because of his work, but he loved playing basketball & football. Over the next serial months things got very bad, my husbands hands & feel became somewhat deformed. He was unable to work with his hands and walking was nearly imposable. His whole body became stiff as a board. After 6 months of tests and several specialists, he was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disorder called "Isaacs Syndrome." He was prescribed a series of drugs that brought back almost 80% of his muscle mobility to date. But the doctor warned us that this particular disorder was made worse by high levels of stress and anxiety. So the next decision to move to an area that was less expensive than San Diego was our next big adventure.

Arriving in Wilmington, NC in December of 2004 was exciting and scary. We left all our family and friends to start a new life there. Things were doing fine. We met some wonderful friends. my husband was feeling good, he found an excellent supervising job in his field. Sawyer and Devin (our older sun) were excelling in school.

In August of 2005, Sawyer developed this nagging cough, We made serial trips to the pediatrician. Maybe it was allergies we were told, so new medicine was prescribed. finely after 4 trips to the doctors and 4 different prescriptions I knew that it had to be something else. After a very extensive doctors visit, it was decided to order a chest ex-ray. The chest ex-ray shows shadowing around the heart so a cat scan was next.

One hour after leaving the hospital I received a call from Sawyers doctor witch was very distressed. He told me that Sawyer had a very large mass near his heart and we needed to get to Chapel Hill that day if we could. The pail I felt, the fear in my husbands tearful eyes and the horror on Sawyers face drops me to my knees even now.

We arrived in Chapel Hill 4 hours after that phone call and met immediately with Sawyers Oncologists. They instructed us on what they knew and what the plan was for the next few days. I was a complete mess. Sawyer was so brave! On January 4 a biopsy of Sawyers tumor was done. It came back positive for some form of Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer. Still not sure 100% what type it is.

January 19th Sawyer underwent open heart Surgery to remove a grapefruit size mass as well as any other cancer looking tissue. Surgery went well and after few days Sawyer made great strides. Nurses loved him cause he never complained.

A week later we received news that Sawyers cancer was not what they thought but something they called Thymoma. (cancer of the Thymus) This is very rare and only 40 cases known with Sawyer being the second youngest. Further testing revealed that Sawyer has the anti body serum for a neuro muscular disorder called Myasthenia Graves, a cousin to the disorder my husband has. All this news was of course was a blow to us and I felt like I could not deal with one more thing. With the support of our family, friends and of course our faith, Sawyer became well enough to come home in late March.

We made an appointment in April to begin radiation treatment for Sawyer, but only after a week at home Sawyer was rushed to the emergency room with pains in his rectum and was immediately admitted into the hospital at New Hanover. the next few days were frightening as before. Sawyer begin to lose weight and have uncontrollable diarrhea. He was then rushed back to Chapel Hill that night.

At Chapel Hill we were admitted into the GI section were the Oncologists felt they would be able to help the best. For several days blood work was done on Sawyer, all the while he was still suffering from terrible diarrhea. His hemoglobin count was dangerously low, about 4 when normal in 12 -14. If that was not enough Sawyer was loosing vital proteins through his intestine walls. Things were not looking good. My husband & I battled with thoughts that we might be loosing Sawyer.

Finely after meeting with several GI doctors from around the country, they believed that Sawyer was suffering from auto immune enteropanty. His intestinal walls and bowel were not functioning properly. It was decided to start sawyer on very high doses of steroids to help stop the diarrhea and get his inflammation in his stomach under control. It begin to work over time. We saw light at the end of the tunnel. Sawyer is such a fighter, he ahs made me strong.

So after 4 months & 1/2 months in the hospital, he has been able to come home. We know there will be ups and downs in the road to recovery and therapy that will be needed. we are Confident that Sawyer will beat this thing. My husband has been a rock, god is my refuge & Sawyer is my inspiration. I want people to know to never to give up hope even when things are looking impossible to overcome. Sawyer is proof of this every day.

Thank you,

Stacy Cox





As of the time when this was written, Sawyer was home, now he is back at Chapel Hill. I am not sure for what this time, if I found out I will let you know.

[BTH284]

Thanks for opening out eyes and hearts to this Capt. Lee. I just sent some up for Sawyer and his family. Please let us know what we can do to help out.
I think it is a great thing the Sailfish tournament and you are doing for Sawyer and his family.

On a lesser note congratulations on your win.

[O-SEA-D]

Great write up Captain Lee. I am proud to know you dude.

[This Side Up]

That is one heart touching story. Becoming a new parent six months ago, this really hits home what could happen to anyone of us. Great job Captain Lee.

Dan

[Bite Me]

This fishing thing is not always just about catching fish. It takes a different type of guy to get beat up all day and pay money to do it. Most times to put a little meat in the box or just to set them free. Different kind of people I tell up. Yet we do it day in and day out as our budgets, families and jobs allow.

I'm on my way to MHC today to work in an engine room in 100 degree heat to get the boat ready to go catch and release a fish or two this weekend.

Whatever genetic deficiancy that we have that makes us like this sort of thing, it comes with another "Defect", big hearts and you my freind have a double dose of that.

Just proud to know ya.