MLF Pros Kevin VanDam and Boyd Duckett Go “All-In” with NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr.
Auction Winner Receives a Fish-Camp-Golf-Shoot Outdoor Adventure of a Lifetime in the Ozark Mountains
Monday, May 18, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Kevin VanDam, the winningest angler of all times, joined hundreds of professional athletes and celebrities from across the country to raise $100 million support the All-In Challenge benefitting Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, World Central Kitchen and No Kid Hungry. In response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Executive Chairman of Fanatics Michael Rubin called on businesses and sports figures to raise money for those on the front lines of the current health and economic crisis.
In response to the challenge, VanDam reached out to fellow MLF angler Boyd Duckett and NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr., as well as his sponsors Team Toyota and Bass Pro Shops, to build a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure at Big Cedar Lodge. To date, the package has raised $30,000 and bidding closes Wednesday, May 20, 10:30 p.m. ET.
“None of us could have dreamed how this virus would affect our lives but a lot of people have been hit really hard,” said MLF pro Kevin VanDam in his video accepting the Challenge. “They have lost their jobs; they don’t know where their next meal will come from and I think everyone needs to step-up and do their part.”
The auction winner and two friends will travel in style via private jet and Toyota vehicles for a three-day, two-night adventure at luxury resort Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozark Mountains. The winner and two friends will dine, golf, skeet shoot, and fish in friendly competitions with VanDam, Truex, and Duckett. The three pro athletes may come from different sports, but their shared love of the outdoors brought them together to support those in need.
“I’m a little worried about the fishing competition, but I’m excited about it too,” said Truex Jr. “I spend a lot of time on the water, but it will be great to be out there fishing, competing against two pros.”
“A lot of people didn’t know that Martin loves to fish and, like me, has spent a lot of time at Big Cedar,” said VanDam. “Big Cedar is a world-class luxury resort hidden in the Ozarks – it’s a really special place and we’re going to have the experience of a lifetime with 100 percent of the proceeds going to feed people in need.”
Complete details about the auction item, including terms and conditions, can be found online at: https://bit.ly/majorleaguefishingexperience. The auction item closes to bidders at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
About Kevin VanDam
Over the last 25 years, Kevin VanDam has dominated the sport of competitive bass fishing. To date, his stats are stunning: 7 BASS Angler of the Year (AOY) Titles; an FLW AOY title; 4 Bassmaster Classic wins; 25 total BASS wins, and 3 MLF Cup wins. KVD has competed in over 320 events and owns 121 top-10 finishes. More recently, VanDam was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2018 and successfully was instrumental in the launch the MLF Bass Pro Tour in 2019. With over $6 million in career earnings, KVD is the winningest angler of all time.
About Major League Fishing
Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms on Outdoor Channel, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). The Bass Pro Tour consists of eight events and a championship streamed live on http://www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and MOTV.
In late 2019 MLF acquired FLW, which expands their portfolio to include the world’s largest grassroots fishing organization, including the strongest five-fish format professional bass fishing tour, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, as well as the Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine, and Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI, and High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing.