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Marlins for Mason is the East Coast’s Newest, Most Inspirational Fishing Tournament
Amanda’s husband, John Prather, is an experienced Captain and Sales Professional for Bluewater Yacht Sales—a Maryland native with a family entrenched in the charter industry and offshore fishing scene. The two set out on a relatively storybook life together, starting their family in Ocean City, where they hoped to raise their children in the same vibrant fishing community they so loved and enjoyed.
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A Dire Outlook
In layman’s terms, Dravet is a rare, severe form of epilepsy that causes frequent, intense seizures, developmental setbacks, and challenges with many everyday activities. Now at five years old, Mason has faced hundreds of seizures that have resulted in countless trips to the emergency room and serious hospitalizations. There is currently no cure and few effective treatment options for this debilitating disease. Like Mason, most Dravet Syndrome patients present within the first 2-15 months of life. The seizures are prolonged, not well-managed with current medications and evolve with age alongside other issues, including but not limited to, behavioral and developmental delays, movement and balance issues and feeding and nutritional challenges. According to research cited by the Dravet Syndrome Foundation, “patients face a 15-20% mortality rate due to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), prolonged seizures, seizure-related accidents such as drowning, and infections. Current treatment options are limited, and the constant care required for someone suffering from Dravet syndrome can severely impact the patient’s and the family’s quality of life.” The estimated incidence rate is 1 out of 15,700 people.
A Salty Solution
Seeing the need for accelerating our understanding of Dravet Syndrome through fundraising and awareness, the Prathers naturally landed on a familiar blueprint from their lives in the fishing community. “We started out wanting to do a small marlin release tournament. As we got going, it quickly evolved into a full-size tournament and a 501c3 non-profit organization,” explains Amanda. A small army of friends and family assembled to help them on their mission, and the Marlins for Mason Tournament was born. “We decided all money between the tournament and sponsorships will go to the Dravet Syndrome Foundation to help fund research and develop better treatment opportunities,” she adds.
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