Fight Pediatric Cancer at the 2015 Reelin’ for Research Tournament

A few years ago, a group of friends held a fishing tournament to honor a beloved cohort. Tony Montana was an exemplary North Carolinian, a Tar Heel so blue that he joked that his son Richard was named to have the initials “RAM.” Lung cancer caught him too early in life, but out of his family’s loss, an idea was born.

That first fishing tournament surprised everyone. Sixteen boats and more than 200 participants overwhelmed the group of friends. After all the line was cast and the fish were cleaned, they turned up the next day at the NC Children’s Hospital. Their prize: nearly $30,000.

That was in 2009. They did it again the next year. And the next. By 2014 their cumulative funds raised had amounted to $1,003,000. The friends knew they had stumbled onto something big. They donated all the money to NC Children’s Promise, a part of UNC, and the fundraising arm of NC Children’s Hospital.

That money goes to pediatric cancer research. The immune system of children are especially vulnerable to sicknesses, and the friends knew that Tony would want them protected first.

Dr. Stuart Gold, UNC’s chief of children’s cancer research, knows better than anyone how important these tournaments are.

“These young folks came in—at least young relative to me—with this idea of having a fishing tournament to support the research in pediatric oncology, and they were absolutely delightful,” Dr. Gold said. “What they’re really doing is giving us the next generation of people who are going to care for children with cancer and blood disorders, which is phenomenal.”

You can help, too. We’re donating $100 for every new or used car purchased during the month of April. You can also swing by our sister stores, Leith Volkswagen of Cary and Leith Nissan, who will do the same.

Or, you can donate directly to Reelin’ for Research without purchasing a car. If you just want to fish, that’s fine, too. You can sign-up to participate in Reelin’ for Research here. More than anything, spread the word. Share this on Facebook, retweet us on Twitter and tell your friends and family. See you there!