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 Brandon is a 7 year old boy who battled a very rare form of cancer. With the first prognosis being that he would not survive, then to bewildered doctors lived past the 6 months he was given less than a 40% chance of survival. For an entire year, Brandon was subjected to chemotherapy that would render most adults a certain death, Brandon beat all the odds. Ganglia-Neuroblastoma is such a rare cancer that it affects only 1 in 20million children. This cancer took the life of another boy in this same community just before Brandon was diagnosed. The cancer actually wrapped itself around BrandonÂ’s aorta. But he being a strong willed child, he would not be taken without a fight.
Not only was Brandon battling something that no human should endure, his family, a family including five others had to battle medical bills that insurance wouldnÂ’t cover. They had to watch this young child suffer through painful treatments which at times made him lash out in anger derived from pain. This family which includes the mother, father, a sister, an infant brother, and a grandmother, had a road ahead of them that would be unfathomable to most. This is a single income family, and sadly the one income is barely enough for them to survive on with healthy children, let alone insufficient insurance, and mounting medical bills.
With the community aware of this horrendous situation a group of fisherman, mostly from the same area, as well as others from as far away as NY and CA, a tournament was derived and took place in less than 3 weeks. Nearly $11,000.00 was raised from this first tournament, and because of the tournaments outcome and participation, Curtis Wright vowed to do this again every year in the name of Brandon. It was decided all other tournaments would be held to help other children and families in the same predicament, or to let BrandonÂ’s family choose the charity in which the monies derived would go. When the 2nd tournament came around, by an influx of emails to Curtis, and his partner Rich (Skeeter Lagoons Bait and Tackle) requesting that this tournament be held for Brandon again, we decided it best to continue to help our new fishing buddy again. After another incredibly successful tournament, Brandon and his family had some help in the ever growing debt.
After a horrid hurricane season which brought 3 storms across our area, in which did severe damage to BrandonÂ’s house, we were greeted late in the year that Brandon had beaten the cancer that was supposed to take his life.
Once again, it was time for Curtis & Rich to plan this year’s tournament, and once again they were inundated with emails requesting that this one go to help Brandon and his family. This could not have been a better idea, as it has just learned that Brandon may have another battle on his young hands. This one may not be as easy to win, as the doctors have said, “If this is the same cancer from before, we will not treat him. Instead we can only offer medicines to help ease the pain.” His parents will be left to try and make a 7 year old boy’s last days the happiest ever.
This year on June 11, the 3 rd Annual Brandon Thornton Benefit Red Fish Tournament will be held. 100% of all proceeds raised, through entry fees, raffles and online auctions for chartered fishing trips will go directly to the family. www.inshore-fishing.com will provide information and updates concerning Brandon, and the upcoming tournament.
Get Bent Sportfishing is taking monetary donations from our members so that we can provide two Custom Get Bent Sportfishing Inshore Series Fishing Rods. One of these rods will be specifically designed and built for Brandon himself with his name done in a weave on the rod. The second rod will be raffled off before and during the tournament. Scott Throop of American Rod Company has agreed to build these rods for us at cost, donating his time to the cause. It is our goal to gather enough funds to cover the cost of these two rods and perhaps purchase a reel worthy of this rod for Brandon as well. Presently we still have not gathered enough funds to cover just the cost of the rods so if you can help us out please do, every dollar helps.
Please make checks payable to Tim Durham and send to Get Bent Sportfishing, 843 September Ave., NE, Palm Bay, FL, 32907-1457.
Should we be so fortunate to have additional funds left over it will be donated to Brandon's family on behalf of those contributing members of Get Bent Sportfishing.
More details to follow!
Update: Brandon has once again been cleared. The hot spot was not cancer as they did a bone marrow scan, as well as some nuclear scan. Despite this good news we still need prayers for the little man, as he can not get his immunization shots until June, thus making him susceptible to illness.
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