Huge impact made helping "to catch the cure" for CF by small Keys tournament

ISLAMORADA, In-The-Florida Keys -The Redbone is celebrating its 25th annual "Fruits of our Labors" BBQ cookout with live entertainment for the hard work and money raised from its 2012 series of fishing tournaments for cystic fibrosis medical research efforts. It takes place Saturday, May 25th, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Lorelei beach near mile marker 82 bayside.

"It's the eighth year in a row we'll be presenting a check for over $1 million to the CF Foundation," said Redbone founder Capt. Gary Ellis. "Actually $1.2 million was raised from last fall's Redbone trilogy of Keys tournaments plus 23 other Redbone fishing events across the U.S. and internationally, to bring awareness to the genetic disease and our great Keys spirit."

BBQ cookout, boat raffle, live music and more The BBQ cookout will be offered to the first 100 people at $15 per person or is free when making a $100 donation for a super raffle ticket which benefits CF Research.

At sunset a super raffle drawing will be held as Dragonfly Boatworks owner Mark Castlow presents to the winner a 14-ft. Marsh Hen skiff complete with a 9.9 hp Yamaha outboard and trailer plus a 13. 5 Dragonfly Paddle Board and a special removable rack.

Ticket holders need not be present to win. There will also be a silent auction with numerous trips, Redbone boutique, artwork and live music by Big Richard and the Family Fun Band. Tickets are available at The Redbone Gallery on Morada Way at MM 81.5 or at the Lorelei Cabana Bar. For more info call 305-664-2002, or go online to www.redbone.org.

25 years of Redbone events raising nearly $18 million "to catch the cure" for CF research Since its inception in 1988 the Florida Keys charity has raised close to $18 million. The Redbone (REDfish and BONEfish) began as a small local Keys tournament to help CF patients like Gary and Susan Ellises young daughter Nicole. The late Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Ted Williams, an Islamorada resident, inspired the Ellises and helped to attract his celebrity friends. Through the efforts of guides, anglers, sponsors and volunteers they raised $16,000 at that first event. It soon grew into a series of three fall tournaments in the Keys.

Today under the guidance of the Ellises the Redbone name has grown into 26 events within four distinct fishing series; the original Redbone celebrity Keys trilogy, the Redbone Red Trout series in five S.E. coastal cities, the Redbone's Bahamas Bonefish series, and the Redbone@Large events in four countries for a wide variety of local fish species in catch-and-release formats. Anglers fish as a team or with a celebrity and are professionally guided.

"CF is a horrible genetic disease causing abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and can lead to life-threatening lung infections," said Susan Ellis. "When we started the Redbone the life expectancy of CF patients was the early teens. Researchers have performed remarkable strides in gene research and CF patients are now living into their mid 30's. Though researchers are close, there's still no cure, and the work is not complete until that cure is found."