A former US Navy Diver, Ryan McCleskey ended his fight against cancer on February 3, 2006.  Born in Panama City Florida in 1979, then moving to Cape Coral, after middle school, Ryan always had a love for the water. Whether he was fishing or diving, the water was his home away from home.

He was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, which generally affects young children, in April 2002, while stationed in Hawaii.  After completing fourteen cycles of chemotherapy, and two major surgeries, in Bethesda Maryland where he was first treated at the National Institute of Health, we thought it would be best to move back home to Cape Coral, near family and friends.

Ryan was in remission for six months before his cancer came back.  It was at that time, we found an amazing staff of doctors and nurses at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.  Ryan’s friends put together the first fishing tournament in 2004.  Ryan felt the best way to express his gratitude for the care he received, was to continue the tournament for years to come and donate all the proceeds to Barbara’s Friends – The Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund.

Ryan passed away at home, the night before his second annual fishing tournament. He was surrounded by his family, friends, and countless fishing buddies that stopped by to see him that night.  Ryan had touched so many lives, whether it was the doctors, nurses, children that were being treated with him, or complete strangers.  With countless tattoos covering his arms and legs, your first impression was this “big, burly guy”, must be real rough and tough!  Just the opposite, Ryan had a heart of gold, great sense of humor, and would do anything for his family and friends.

To date we have raised over $50,000 for Barbara’s Friend’s and there will be a room named in Ryan’s honor at the new Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, which is to begin construction sometime in 2013.

This is our eighth annual tournament and look forward to many, many, more great years ahead of us, raising money for a cause that will always hold a special place in my heart.

I am sure Ryan is looking down with that big grin on his face, that we all knew so well!