Classic Champion Edwin Evers Partners With OPTIMA Batteries For Healing Heroes In Action Tour

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic champion Edwin Evers is teaming up once again with OPTIMA Batteries and a new partner, B.A.S.S., with live coverage on Bassmaster.com, to give deserving Purple Heart veterans a once-in-a-lifetime fishing experience in the OPTIMA Batteries Healing Heroes in Action Tour presented by General Tire.

Now in its second year, the Healing Heroes in Action Tour supports the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to serving the nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart veterans through outdoor sporting activities.

“After a successful inaugural year, we’re honored to again bring these incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to veterans and fans nationwide in a way only OPTIMA Batteries can,” said Cam Douglass, director of marketing for OPTIMA Batteries. “The addition of new partners and sponsors, as well as our longstanding relationship with Edwin, only help extend the impact this program has on the lives of deserving veterans as well as the foundation.”

The tour is set to raise funds through a Facebook auction on Evers’ page, where fans can bid for a chance to fish against Evers and a Purple Heart veteran in one of four events across America. All money raised goes directly to the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation.

The 2015 tour raised more than $12,000 for the Foundation through five local events, but new partnerships with B.A.S.S. and presenting sponsor General Tire bring the tour to a national audience via livestream and extended coverage on Bassmaster.com.

“B.A.S.S. is truly honored to partner with OPTIMA Batteries and Edwin on the Healing Heroes in Action Tour,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “We have been blown away by our live audience, so this is the perfect platform to make the program and its efforts more accessible to fans.”

The first event is set to kick off June 13 on Lake Texoma in Durant, Okla., after the conclusion of the GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest, and continue with three more events coinciding with Evers’ travels on the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament trail. Bidding for the first event begins Wednesday, June 1 and concludes June 8.

“A day out on the water fishing with Edwin is a one-of-a-kind experience we’re grateful to be able to offer to our veterans,” said John J. McDaniel, founder of Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation. “Through this initiative and the camaraderie Edwin brings to the events, we are not only honoring the service of these veterans, but also promoting healing and wellness.”

Evers added, “I’m honored to support veterans through this program. It’s an opportunity to give back just a little bit to the people who give so much. The B.A.S.S. audience will be able to join us on the water this year through the live coverage, and I hope the show offers some teaching components and a few laughs!”

For more information on the OPTIMA Batteries and the Healing Heroes in Action Tour, visit OPTIMABatteries.com. To place your bid to fish against Evers at the first event on June 13, visit Facebook.com/EdwinEversFishing. To find out more about the WWIA, please visit wwiaf.org.

The complete 2016 schedule is as follows:

June 13 on Lake Texoma in Durant, Okla.
June 27 on Cayuga Lake in Union Springs, N.Y.
July 26 on the Arkansas River in Little Rock, Ark. (Live coverage on Bassmaster.com)
August 15 on the Potomac River in Charles County, Md. (Live coverage on Bassmaster.com)