SEBASTIAN – The 41st anniversary of the discovery of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha treasure by explorer Mel Fisher will be marked this month with the annual Mel Fisher Days Charity Event in Sebastian.
The event is scheduled for July 17-19 at the Mel Fisher Treasure Museum, located at 1322 US Hwy 1. A silent online auction is now open and will run through midnight July 20. It features more than $35,000 in items, experiences, and getaways donated by supporters from Key West to Sebastian.
Event highlights will include a “Dress Like a Pirate” costume contest, a scavenger hunt bar crawl, a Treasure Hunter’s Forum, a dockside party, and book signings.
All net proceeds will benefit two organizations: Wesley House Family Services in Monroe County and the Michael Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation in Indian River County.
Honoring a Legacy
The first Mel Fisher Days took place in 1998, shortly before Fisher’s death. It began as a tribute featuring fans in “Today’s the Day” shirts who followed Fisher in a pedicab. The event has since raised more than $195,000 for Wesley House and $88,000 for the Have a Heart Foundation.
The Beneficiaries
The Michael Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation offers youth heart screenings, CPR training, and automated external defibrillators to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in young people. More information is available at www.haveaheartformichael.org.
Wesley House Family Services provides child protection, foster care, and family support programs in Monroe County. Details are at www.wesleyhouse.org.
How to Participate
The full schedule, auction bidding, and scavenger hunt registration are available at www.melfisherdays.com or by calling 772-589-0435.
