Clamming for a Cure raises money for breast cancer research

The Clamming for a Cure event in Ocean City once again raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer research.

The annual event, hosted by Fish Tales, began eight years ago as a dedication to the owner’s late brother, Steve Harman.

In addition to the clamming event, the owners of Fish Tales started Poor Girls Open, a tournament which also fundraises for breast cancer. That tournament takes place 3 weeks after the clamming event.

Participants of Clamming for a Cure paid a $100 entry fee.

The event involved teams of two. One member went out on a kayak, got a clam, delivered it to a judge and then tagged their teammate to go out next.

Whatever team had the most clams at the end won a $1,500 cash prize.

Most of that prize money was donated by the events sponsors, like Landshark, Hoop Tea and Fin City.
The leftover money after the cash prize all went towards breast cancer research.

It is all for a great cause, but for one Fish Tales employee, the contest meant something more.

“It means a ton to me, being that I was diagnosed last year. The amount of support and the amount of people that come out is absolutely amazing. This town is amazing with things like that,” said Christina Rothfus, bartender at Fish Tales.

Also helping out at the Clamming for a Cure event was the Ocean City Surf Club.

The Surf Club is a nonprofit that was recently founded in 2014, when local surfers realized there is no Surf Rider Foundation in Ocean City.

The Surf Club supports youth with scholarships and mentoring and also provides environmental protection for our beaches.

Fish Tales serves as a Surf Club sponsor, so the Surf Club was happy to return the favor at the Clamming for a Cure event.

“It’s a very great setting out here. There’s a lot of fun people, a lot of high energy, so we like to be a part of it every year and give them our support,” said Tommy Vach, member of the Ocean City Surf Club.

The Surf Club told 47 ABC they appreciate support from the public and said they are always looking for more volunteers.

You can find out more about the Ocean City Surf Club and sign up to volunteer here: https://ocsurfclub.org/