The fifth annual Casting for a Cause Fishing Tournament is set for Saturday, May 4, to benefit the Prader-Willi Florida Association. The unique tournament will take place in Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, giving anglers the rare opportunity to compete in both offshore and inshore divisions in one area.
The event is again organized by tournament director Michelle Torbert, whose 15- year-old daughter Leslie has Prader-Willi syndrome. Title sponsors of this year’s tourney are Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and S&L Farms of Homestead.
Casting for a Cause will kick off the festivities with a Captains’ Meeting on Thursday, May 2, at 6 p.m., in the Capri Restaurant in Florida City.
On tournament day, inshore/back country anglers will fish Everglades National Park out of Flamingo for snook, tarpon, permit and redfish. This division of the tournament is strictly catch-and-release. Cash prizes will be awarded for both guided and unguided divisions.
Offshore anglers will fish for such species as dolphin, Wahoo, tuna and kingfish and vie for the top prize of $5,000 in the Offshore Dolphin Tournament. Second place prize is $2,000 and third place is $1,000. There is no point of departure and the afternoon weighin will be take place at the Bayfront Park dock in Homestead. The top lady angler and top junior angler will be awarded prizes in both the inshore and offshore divisions.
The day will culminate with an awards celebration and dinner Saturday evening, 6:30 p.m., at the Homestead Women’s Club. Many premium items, including autographed Miami HEAT basketball and several luxury vacation packages, will go to the highest bidders during the live auction. The event is open to the public and a social ticket is $50.
The 2012 tournament raised more than $94,000 for the Prader-Willi Florida Association and the event has raised more than $280,000 over the past four years.
“My goal is to raise more than $100,000 this year,” said Torbert, who serves as the president of the Florida chapter of Prader- Willi Syndrome Association and on the organization’s national Board of Directors.
The families and professionals who make up the Prader-Willi Syndrome work together to promote and fund research, provide education and offer support to enhance the quality of life of those affected by Prader- Willi syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of life-threatening obesity in children. Although the cause is complex, the disease results from an abnormality on the 15th chromosome. Among other symptoms, the disease causes a chronic feeling of hunger that, coupled with a metabolism that utilizes drastically fewer calories than normal, can lead to excessive eating and lifethreatening obesity. The food compulsion makes constant supervision necessary.
“This tournament will help raise muchneeded funds for the children and adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome while also promoting south Dade’s beautiful national parks,” said Torbert. “We invite everyone to join us for this unique fishing event.”
For more information and to register, email <info@castingforacause.com> or go to www.castingforacause.com
