Stuart Sailfish Club Eleuthera tournament raises funds for Bahamas Breast Cancer Outreach

One Eleuthera Foundation accepts check from Sailfish Club. Pictured from left to right: Shaun Ingraham, CEO, One Eleuthera Foundation, Margaret Dyer, Chairperson of Stuart Saltwater Lady Angler Tournament, Monique Smith, Manager, Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina, Maisie Thompson, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Shapreka Clarke, Community Outreach Assistant, One Eleuthera Foundation, Queenie Dawkins-Sands, Tom Dyer, Chairman of Board, Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation, Chinnici McDonald, Administer of Cancer Society of Eleuthera, Pamela McCarthy Executive Director, Stuart Sailfish Club. The top photos, show a plaque presented to One Eleuthera by the club, and some of the items on display for the auction.

The Stuart Sailfish Club hosted a six-day fishing tournament at Cape Eleuthera Marina, South Eleuthera, Bahamas, from May 6 through May 12. The flotilla included 10 boats and 60 members. “The members were very impressed with Cape Eleuthera and voted to make this tournament an annual event.”, said Tom Dyer, Chairman of Board, Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation.

During their annual events, the Stuart Sailfish Club always donates to local community organizations and this event was no different. One member of the Stuart Sailfish Club shared the club’s reasoning for supporting one project in particular.

“Being a breast cancer survivor myself, I am very passionate about helping One Eleuthera Foundation’s Breast Cancer Outreach Program. I parallel their wishes to educate Bahamian women on breast cancer.” said Margaret Dyer, Chairperson of Stuart Saltwater Lady Angler Tournament, Stuart Sailfish Club.

“As a longtime charity fundraiser, I am extremely interested in the progression and needs of establishing a mammogram and ultrasound facility on Eleuthera”, she continued.

The Club enlisted the help of Community Outreach Coordinator, Maisie Thompson and Community Outreach Assistant, Shapreka Clarke to help with a Chinese auction, a component of their flotilla event with proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Outreach Program. The duo collected items donated by local Eleuthera artisans that were put up for auction during the event. The idea was not only to raise funds, but also to give Stuart Sailfish Club members the opportunity to take a piece of Eleuthera home with them.

During the closing ceremony of the flotilla, the Stuart Sailfish Club invited representatives of One Eleuthera Foundation’s Breast Cancer Outreach Program along and presented the program with a donation.

Shaun Ingraham, CEO of One Eleuthera Foundation, expressed gratitude to the club for their contribution. “We are most appreciative for the kindness and generosity shown by our new friends and allies from Stuart”, he said.

“It’s always very encouraging when persons recognize what we are doing in the community and offer to become partners with the work. Early detection can save lives and education can make a huge difference in the lives of our women and young girls. Every bit of assistance helps us get this information out there.” said Maisie Thompson, Community Outreach Coordinator of the Breast Cancer Outreach Program.

“Our members were very impressed with Cape Eleuthera and voted to make this tournament an annual event.”, said Tom Dyer, chairman of the Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation.

The Stuart Sailfish Club’s annual Saltwater Sisters Tournament, scheduled this year October 13-14, 2017, benefits Friends in Pink and Windsor Community Angels who assist with medical expenses and mammograms for those on the Treasure Coast who are uninsured or underinsured.

To learn more about One Eleuthera Foundation, visit www.oneeleuthera.org. To learn more about Salt Water Sisters or the Stuart Sailfish Club, visit www.stuartsailfishclub.com.