Ferlita Fishing Tournament Aims to Reel In Cure for Childhood Cancer

The 14th annual Bright House Networks Johnny Ferlita Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held May 15 – 16, 2015. The event benefits the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and honors the memory of “Tampa’s Speed King of the Waterways,” Johnny Ferlita.

The weekend will kick off on Friday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. with the Captain’s Party at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club. Guests will enjoy a festive dinner party featuring music, dancing, an auction, and a chance drawing. In addition, 15-year-old Tony Colton will share about his battle with cancer and the need for research.

Anglers will drop their lines in the water on Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 a.m. and fish for Redfish, Snook, and Trout during the one-day, catch-and-release tournament. Following the tournament is a lunch and awards banquet where $500 cash prizes will be awarded for the biggest overall fish and biggest slam. The tournament will also feature ladies and children’s award divisions.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, May 15

Tampa Yacht and Country Club (5320 Interbay Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33611)

6:30 p.m. Captain’s Party

7:30 p.m. 15-year-old Tony Colton will share about his battle with cancer (great photo opportunity)

Saturday, May 16

The Bay Club at Westshore Yacht Club (6003 Beacon Shores Street, Tampa, FL 33616)

7:00 a.m. Fishing begins

3:00 p.m. Scorecards due, awards, and luncheon

The angler entry fee is $175, which includes fishing and a pair of tickets to all social functions. A guided boat option is also available for $1,500, which includes three angler entries and tickets to all social functions. All anglers receive a gift bag upon registration. Guests who do not wish to fish can enjoy the Captain’s Party on Friday for $75 per person. For more information, please call the Pediatric Cancer Foundation at 813-269-0955 or visit www.fastercure.org.

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of Johnny Ferlita’s family and friends, the event has generated more than $670,000 for childhood cancer research over the past 13 years.

—ABOUT JOHNNY FERLITA—

Johnny Ferlita was a native-born Floridian who took full advantage of the waterways in Florida with his enthusiasm for boat racing and fishing. Aptly referred to as “Tampa’s Speed King of the Waterways,” Ferlita set the world record for the Florida Family Runabout five-mile competitive race at 39.6 miles per hour. He became part of the U.S. Power Squadron in 1961 and was a member, instructor, and past commander of the Tampa Power Squadron.

—PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION—

With its national headquarters in Tampa, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research to eliminate childhood cancer. Its focus is to find less toxic, more targeted therapies by partnering with leading hospitals nationwide. For more information on PCF, go to www.fastercure.org.