JDRF is pleased to announce that it has been selected as the charity partner of this year’s Big Game Battle offshore sport fishing tournament, taking place off Nantucket from August 11-14, 2016.  The partnership will help JDRF raise funds and awareness for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and the organization’s programs.

The Big Game Battle is an invitational, big game fishing tournament. Begun in 2002 with three boats, the tournament has grown to include more than 200 participants and more than 45 boats, ranging in size from 26 feet to 86 feet in length. The tournament is proudly not a money tournament, with its name derived from the fact that so many of the boat captains “talk a big game.”

“This will be our 15th tournament and we are looking forward to another terrific event, on the water and at the award ceremony and dinner,” said Don O’Neill, one of the tournament organizers and Managing Partner of Condyne Capital Partners, LLC. “We are proud to have maintained the same focus on fun, camaraderie and fishing as the tournament has grown over the years. We are also proud that as we’ve grown we’ve been able to help a charity each year and we’re looking forward to working with JDRF.”

Each year’s Big Game Battle benefits a local charity, usually with a connection with a boat captain or crew member. In previous years, the tournament has benefitted the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, Nantucket STAR, the ALS Therapy Development Institute, and the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

“The people organizing and participating in the Big Game Battle have shown their tremendous generosity in helping their annual charitable partners and we could not be more excited to be involved this year,” said Amy Montalto, executive director of the New England Chapter of JDRF. “I would also like to offer my special thanks to Tournament Chairman Don O’Neill for not only this amazing opportunity but for embracing JDRF as a partner in event preparations.  It has been an honor to work with him and we are humbled by his gracious dedication.  Additionally, a great deal of the funds raised for JDRF this year can be to attributed to the efforts of John Lashar whose personal drive to assist us in our mission is unparalleled.  Type 1 diabetes future treatments, prevention and eventual cure will be a part of his personal legacy and we truly cannot thank him enough.”

Sponsors of this year’s tournament include individuals and several leading companies in Massachusetts, from Greater Boston to the Cape and Islands.

For more information on the tournament, please visit www.biggamebattle.com.  To support the event, visit http://bit.ly/BGBJDRF.