A Memorial inshore tournament was established in his honor. Mount Pleasant native, Joe Shuford, lived for the outdoors. Whether it was duck hunting, fishing, or snowboarding, if it was outside he was there with a smile on his face. Joe was diagnosed and began his battle with brain cancer during the spring semester of his freshman year of college. Joe’s Buddy began as a campaign to raise awareness
and fundraising to help Joe win his fight with cancer. In 2005, when Joe lost his battle with cancer, the Joe Shuford Memorial Reef was created in his memory. Joe’s Buddy then became a charitable fishing tournament with a goal to expand the memorial offshore reef and to help others that are also fighting the same battle. Since the first year of the tournament, the community awareness and involvement has grown exponentially. In 2020 an endowment fund was created with the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital. Joe's Buddy donates annually to the pediatric cancer unit at MUSC and to Camp Happy Days.
13 years later, we still strive to honor Joe and help families fighting the battle against childhood cancer.
