‘It’s about a cure’

By Andy Brown

Published: June 11, 2008

It’s not uncommon for drivers cruising down Hwy. 431 to see the parking lots near Lake Eufaula’s boat ramps filled with trucks and trailers with the boats they were hauling noticeably absent, or to see the 45,181-acre lake dotted with fishing boats nearly as far as the eye can see.

The lake’s tendency to produce record largemouth bass has made it a favorite stop among both weekend anglers and professional bass tours such as the FLW’s Stren Series.

Saturday, the lake which has helped Eufaula earn the reputation as the “Big Bass Capital of the World,” will host another bass tournament. But this one is different.

There will be hundreds of anglers, a weigh-in filled with all the usual excitement and a cash payout, but this tournament is about more than simply taking home first prize.

It’s about finding a cure.

Saturday, Lake Eufaula will once again serve as host of the Lee King Benefit Bass Tournament. The tournament, now in its eighth year, was founded by local fishing guide Sam Williams to help secure funds for Niemann-Pick Disease research after he met Eufaula native Lee King.

King, now 16 years old, was diagnosed with Type C Niemann-Pick Disease as a young child. Type C is part of a group of rare, deadly hereditary diseases that affect metabolism.

The illness has no cure, and Type C, which causes excessive amounts of cholesterol to accumulate within the liver, spleen and brain, is always fatal. Most patients die before the age of 20.

King now uses a wheelchair and must rely on a feeding tube for nutrition.

After meeting King, Williams knew he had to do something to help so he founded the Lee King Foundation and started the fishing tournament.

“Lee can’t talk to you, but he can smile at you with those eyes of his,” Williams said. “You can ask him how he’s doing, and he may not look at you when you do it, but he’ll struggle to raise that hand and give you a thumbs up. That’s his thing. That means everything is good. How can you not want to do everything you can for a kid like that? That’s why I’ll never give up on this. As long as I’m alive, I’m going to be looking for a cure. That’s what this tournament is all about. It’s about a cure.”

During the past eight years, the foundation has raised more than $180,000 for Niemann-Pick research. Last year’s tournament, with a payout of $10,400, featured a record 147 teams and raised more than $38,000.

Williams is hoping that this year’s increased payout of $11,250 will attract even more anglers and in turn generate more money for research.

Currently, 102 boats are registered for the event. Williams and the other tournament organizers are hoping to reach 200 boats by Saturday.

“We’re still praying for 200,” Williams said. “The support has been awesome, and I think the bigger payout has helped attract some people. If we can get to 200 boats, we’ll be able to offer some bigger incentive money for 2009.”

The entry fee for the tournament is $110 for early entry and $135 the day of the tournament.

Along with the tournament, the Lee King Foundation will hold three drawings. The prizes include a 150 hp Optimax Mercury, a Humminbird 797c2 Fish Finder and a MaxPro 80/FC-42-inch trolling motor.

In years past, the foundation held a boat drawing.

“This will give all ticket holders three chances to win instead of just one,” Williams said.

Tickets cost $10. A group of six tickets can be purchased for $50, while 14 tickets can be purchased for $100.

For more information on the tournament contact Williams at (334) 687-6266 or visit http://www.leekingbenefit.org.