One of Ocean City’s most highly regarded citizens is being laid to rest this week–just as the charity fishing tournament which raises money to battle the disease that played a hand in claiming her life too soon–is getting underway.
Kathy Mathias, city clerk, mother of two, and wife of Senator Jim Mathias, passed away Monday August 15th. Mathias was a behind-the-scenes staple to the town of Ocean City for over 28 years, serving in various capacities from acting as Ocean City’s first lady, to creating a program aptly named Ocean City University, effectively explaining the local government to it’s citizens through various courses of completion.
Mathias had breast cancer, a disease she battled on and off for years, until it returned and spread, claiming her life. Regardless of her battle with breast cancer, Mathias had an unbelievably dedicated work ethic, and she displayed the same tenacity towards her philanthropic duties. She was recently designated as Honorary Chair for the Ocean City Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Committee. The Making Strides 5k run/walk is one of the events included as part of the Pink Ribbon Classic at the Beach, a months-long series of events aimed toward raising awareness and funding for breast cancer. The Pink Ribbon Classic kicks off with the first big event this week—The Poor Girls Open, a billfish release tournament. This event pays homage to the strength and determination of women like Kathy Mathias, with all proceeds benefiting breast cancer research.
Poor Girls Open
The Poor Girls Open is a women’s only fishing tournament, and the lady anglers are every bit as capable at bringing in the big fish as the men, but receive considerably less publicity for it. The Poor Girls is held the week after Ocean City’s White Marlin Open, and sits in the shadows of the veritable giant of billfish tournaments. While many of the ladies enjoy fishing, unlike the White Marlin Open, none of them do it professionally. There is money to be won from entering the various Calcutta’s, but most of the participants enter the tournament in memory or in support of a relative or friend who has battled breast cancer—with the ultimate goal to raise as much money as possible for research. Gaining publicity for the event is key—the more boats that enter—the more money earned. This year’s tournament, the 18th is projected to have 130 boats enter, up from last year’s 79.
Aside from the fact that Poor Girls is a ladies only charity tournament, and the billfish—White and Blue Marlin–are catch and release as opposed to catch and keep, it functions just like every other major fishing tournament. The lady anglers spend one out of three possible days at sea fishing, for on average, twelve hours. The fishing spots are generally several hours offshore. But for those who participate, the opportunity provides an unparalleled experience–witnessing turtles, sharks and flying-fish in their native habitat, and of course the opportunity to reel in a huge fish.
For many of these novice anglers, it’s a baptism by fire; they learn while doing. That’s where the First Mate comes in, providing a crash educational course on how to catch and reel in really big fish—which can weigh several hundred pounds. One person ultimately must reel in each fish, but it’s the team spirit in camaraderie for a cause that sets this event apart. The Captain and First Mate provide hands on support, and local businesses provide financial means by sponsoring the boats and paying entry fees, illustrating what a community-backed event this truly is.
The Poor Girls was started 18 years ago by Steve Harmon, who wanted to create a tournament that the local resort staff—bartenders, wait staff, hotel staff—could afford to participate in, hence the name Poor Girls Open. Breast cancer was an obvious beneficiary of the proceeds—his wife battled the disease. Nowadays the tournament is continued on by Sean Harmon, brother to Steve, and Nancy Dofflemyer, co-founder of the Pink Ribbon Classic at the Beach. Over the years, the tournament has grown, and now it’s ready for a new level of success.
One of the boats from the Discovery Channel show Swords-which documents the real life dangerous profession of fishing for giant swordfish–has been spotted fishing a few hours out from the shores of Ocean City. It’s rumored that the female captain of this vessel has been informed of the Poor Girls Open, and has expressed an interest in entering. If that were to happen, the Poor Girls Open would springboard very quickly to a new level of notoriety, one that would bring significant funding for breast cancer research.
But, regardless if the rumor turns out to be true, the Poor Girls Open is at heart a group of local women united in support of a noble cause. For avid fisherman Shannon Ehinger, participating in the Poor Girls is about doing as much as she can personally to fight breast cancer. In the past Ehinger has chaired two golf tournaments to raise funds for cancer patients—one of whom was an aunt diagnosed with breast cancer. In addition to that aunt, Ehinger has had another aunt, a grandmother, great-grandmother, and friends all diagnosed with breast cancer, and knows all too well the prevalence of the disease.
“Breast Cancer used to be that you knew a friend of a friend that had it and now its your family and friends and neighbors and coworkers, “ Ehinger stated.
Breast cancer though seemingly on the rise, and a devastating diagnosis to receive, is not the immediate death sentence it once was, proving that the funding for research provided by events like the Poor Girls is essential to keeping women alive. Also paramount are local organizations like Ocean City’s Pink Ribbon Classic, or Women Supporting Women that provide encouragement to breast cancer sufferers and their families by continuing to spread awareness, and by providing encouragement to the patients themselves as they undergo treatment. And sometimes, all it takes is one person who puts on a brave face while waging her own personal fight against breast cancer, to be that positive role model.
The fact that Kathy Mathias passed away this week—just days before the Poor Girls Open, the official kick-off event for Ocean City’s Pink Ribbon Classic, an organization that Mathias once served as chair of—is a reminder that even the most involved in the cause, the most vigilant, may too soon be taken away. Events like the Poor Girls Open, held each year in support of, or in memory of countless women who battle breast cancer bravely, are essential to the cause. Women like Kathy Mathias who work, raise families, support their communities and press on bravely, hoping every day for a cure.
August 18-20th weigh-ins each day from 4p-7:30p at Bahia Marina
Vendors, 50/50 raffles and a silent auction, food and beverages on-site—all proceeds benefit breast cancer research
More information here
