Captain Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament

[gottaflylee]

This tournament dedicated to the past charter boat captains and mates. A good number of us have been inspired by these people my self included...but this for my and most of the rest of us that is not what it is about. Its about being able to give back to someone that is less fortunate than me. Each year we pick a new family in our area the try to help out and see if we can raise some money to help out with their bills.
I am in no way asking for money from anyone here, I am just trying to let you know what this tournament is about. The members of this great site have all ready raised $25,000 for the Boys and Girl's Club last week and how great is that.
This year the Verzaal 's were who we chose. Their son Justin was Diagnosed w/ Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 03/2002. As I understand it their is no cure for this and I just want you to get to know this great child.


Age: 11 1/2 (DOB: 10/16/95)

School & Grade: Roland Grise– 7th grade

Best Subject: Reading/Language Arts

Hobbies: Swimming, Fishing, Computer & Video Games, NASCAR and Slot Car Racing.

Favorite Sport Hero: Tony Stewart (NASCAR driver)

Favorite Restaurant: Hiro Japanese Steak House

Siblings: 2 (twins-boy/girl age 7 1/2)

Parents & Occupation:
Father: Paul Verzaal
Police Officer
Mother: Christian Verzaal
Ice Skating Instructor

Dear Friends,
For those of you who are not familiar with this disability, Muscular dystrophies are genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness that begin with microscopic changes in the muscle. As muscles degenerate over time, the person’s muscle strength declines. With Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), boys begin to show signs of muscle weakness as early as age 3. The disease gradually weakens the skeletal or voluntary muscles, those in the arms , legs and trunk. Nearly all children with DMD lose the ability to walk sometime between ages 7 and 12. Justin lost his at the age of 8. By the early teens or even earlier, the boy’s heart and respiratory muscles may also be affected. At this time, there's no way to stop or reverse the muscle degeneration. In order to make life “easier” Justin had a heal cord and tendon transfer surgery on both legs in 2006 and is awaiting spinal fusion surgery in the coming year. Most recently (the last day of school to be exact), he fell out of his wheelchair resulting in a broken femur. He has been in a cast from toe to thigh all summer.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association does offer a vast array of services to help families deal with MD such as summer camps and medical check ups. However, there are still may things that both the MDA and regular insurance cannot assist families with, including ramps, a lift van, ceiling lifts, and other necessary adaptive equipment. It is for this reason my husband and I have had to reach out for assistance from our family, church and other charitable organizations to help offset the costs. This year alone Justin has required new leg braces, new power and manual wheelchair, hospital bed, and shower chair, etc. We were fortunate enough in 2005 to have the police and firefighters of Wilmington assist with a complete bathroom renovation for our son and the Make a Wish foundation awarded Justin with his wish for his own laptop computer.

Still, Justin and our entire family continue to have both physical and emotional needs with each passing day. Many people don’t understand Justin’s disability, especially Justin. He simply can’t seem to grasp what is happening to him. What is most distressing is trying to answer why. We all struggle to find ways to do things like “normal” families do, but inevitably so much thought and planning has to go into it all that we often have a difficult time enjoying ourselves. For example, last week was the first time in several years we visited the beach as a family. A lot of times Justin just isn't motivated to do anything different. He assumes it is too much work to even try. Thank you for considering our family as a beneficiary of your charitable event. We believe that opportunities like this give Justin the extra bit of faith that good things can happen to good people.

Sincerely,

Christian Verzaal and Family

Justin with his brother and sister, whom are twins...


The whole family

John Boy and our friend "Thiggie" Whom is a Wrightsville beach policeman with the Verzaals

Christian & Justain

Paul Verzaal Telling us about what they are going through with Justain


If I have it right, we were able to raise $7,599 for the Verzaals. I know it is not much but every little bit helps.
We also presented Hospice a check for about $6,000. Paul Engel with Cape Fear Yachts presented the check.

[gottaflylee]

In 2 days of fishing this bounder tournament ( roughly 26.5 miles out and 30 miles north to south) 39 boats released 25 Sailfish
Retriever...4
Chicken ship...3
Dawg Catcher...2
SS Fish Witch...2
Music man...2
Off Shore Account...2
Horse...1
Lane Choice...1
No Limit...1
Gottafly...1
Yellow dog...1
Duh Huh...1
Final Approach...1
Heat Pump...1
Whipsaw...1
and 3 more Sails that I don't have boats names for...sorry.
This tournament was designed so that small boats would be able to fish it and in 8 years of fishing small outboards have won it 5 times!
Many more were hooked and lost...thats why its called fishing...I know I missed my share this year.

Fixing the chow...



Big Show Grill...



our shirts...



Perpetual trophy...



This years trophies for the winners...



This years leader board...sorry for the bad pictures Day one

[gottaflylee]

The main 2 tournament directors



The tournament directors...Myself with John Boy, Kit Taylor and Tripp Brice




Dawg Catcher...First fish, second day



Retriever...8th fish of the tournament



Horse...first Sail of the tournament



Second place Dolphin...Rodfather



First place Dolphin...yours truely...Gottafly

[gottaflylee]

And the winners are...Retriever...the check



The trophy...



The Sportsmanship Award...Adam Thompson on left and Capt. Jimmy Vass



The auctioneer Rob Tennal



Last but not least... the band...American Wolfs...great music guys!



Last but not least, I want to thank all that helped out to put it all together, our sponsors, host marina "The Bridge Tender Marina," the fishermen and also all that donated money and prizes to help with the charities as well as John Boy & Billy show along with "Big show Foods" who has all ways been there for this event.
Capt. Lee

[twodogs]

Great work Capt. Lee. You guys did a fantastic job, and I promise Two Dogs will enter next year...this is the second year in a row we've landed a sail in the king tournament - I've learned my lesson.

Also, I had no idea it went to such a good cause...any chance you want to have more charity tournaments around WB? I'll help any way I can.

Again, great job and let me know what I can do!!

Chip

[Tuna Taxi]

Great recap Lee. I hadn't heard of this tournament before this weekend and didn't know what it was about. That's a great cause you gus have halping those families. The $$ amount raised is probably much less important than the feeling of support they get from their fishing community.

Great job, and congrats on the mahi win.

[SeaBiscuit]

Very nice job captain Lee and the rest of the tournament directors! Well run event and very worthy causes.
Congratulations on your first place dolphin as well!
This was my first year fishing the Haneman and although I'm not much into billfishing, I really enjoyed trying to fool the nearshore sails. I think I will be fishing this one again in the future.
Thank you once again,
Nick (SeaBiscuit)

[brandon558]

Very well ran and for a good cause Tournament. You all did a great job running the tourny. 25 sails isnt bad at all in my book. Congrats on your 1st place dolphin aswell.

Thanks for the recap Lee..im looking forward to next years!

Brandon

[wbfish]

What was 1st place dolphin weight? We caught a about a 12 pounder and filleted it up for dinner thinking it wouldn't even be close. Hope that wasn't a big mistake.

[gottaflylee]

Thanks guys for all your support with ths. If it were not for all the fishermen like you guys it would not happen. Maybe next year it will be bigger. The Dolphin was 13.52.