Fishing tournament benefits Team Gracie's fight against cystic fibrosis

Ben Buesing (left) and Rusty Thomas took first place in the Seventh Annual "Fishing For a Cure" Buddy Bass Tournament at Rich Hill, Mo., May 7. The pair won $100 and tickets to a NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Kansas City, Kan., in October. Grace Beshore, who is fighting cystic fibrosis, stands with the winners. Buesing also won the $100 cash pot for capturing the largest bass in the tournament. (Submitted photo)

RICH HILL, Mo -- The Seventh Annual "Fishing For a Cure" Buddy Bass Tournament, held here May 7, raised over $1,000 in the fight against cystic fibrosis, a deadly genetic disease. The weather couldn't have been better and 24 teams were entered in this year's competition.

The charity tournament is an annual event to benefit Team Gracie and all proceeds are donated directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Teams of two checked in three fish each and prizes were awarded for total weight and biggest bass overall.

Beshore stands with second-place winners Travis Brooks and Aryan Compton. They won tickets to the NASCAR Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway in June. (Submitted photo)

Rusty Thomas and Ben Buesing won the overall trophy, T-shirts, Kansas Speedway tickets for the Nationwide race in October and $100 cash with a total weight of 15 lbs., 13 oz. for three largemouth bass. They donated their cash prize back to Team Gracie. Buesing also checked in the largest bass of the tournament, weighing in at 5 lbs., 12 oz. Buesing took home the "biggest bass cash pot," which totaled $100.

Travis Brooks and Aryan Cumpton came in second place for overall team with a total catch of 14 lbs., 6 oz. They won T-shirts and Kansas Speedway tickets for the Truck Series race in June.

Nathan Kassner and Lance Breckenridge received tackle boxes when they came in third with a total of 13 lbs., 9 oz.

With generous sponsor donations, everyone who competed received door prizes including hats and fishing gear.

At check-in, everyone enjoyed a smoked pulled pork and briskit meal, courtesy of Terry and Dixie Hoeper.

Sponsors included Natalea Hoeper, Nick Marchiano, International Used Truck Center of Kansas City and Detroit Diesel of Kansas City. Clint McKinley donated the traveling trophies.

Team Gracie is a group formed to support Grace Beshore and her battle with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Grace Beshore is the eight-year-old daughter of Chris Beshore, niece of Natalea Hoeper and granddaughter of Terry and Dixie Hoeper.

CF affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, "A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections."

In the 1950's few children with CF lived past Grace's current age, but with donations from events like this, along with the strong commitment of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the life expectancy of CF patients has risen to 37 years.

If you are interested in learning more about the event, making a charitable donation or want more information about upcoming events, visit www.walkforgrace.com or contact Chris Beshore at (417) 395-2770.