The annual fundraiser to benefit patients in the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center’s service area netted around $75,000 this year.

Representatives of Cypress Landing and Washington Yacht and Country Club headed the initiative, while members of the community contributed to the cause in many different ways.

Last year, the community, with leadership from the two clubs, raised around $69,000. Beating last year’s total proceeds, many different components of the initiative contributed to the grand total: the creation and sale of bows, which raised almost $27,000; the annual Hope and Heroes Walk, which brought in a little more than $6,000; spots on the honor board, a place to honor or remember a loved one, garnered a little less than $3,500; sponsorships for the initiative yielded $21,250; two raffles — one at Cypress Landing and one at WYCC — brought in a little less than $3,000; the Let’s Tee It Up for a Cure golf tournament raised $9,840 — $5,640 was raised through 120 participants at Cypress Landing and $4,200 was raised through 100 participants at WYCC; hole sponsorships at each club raised a little more than $6,500 — Cypress Landing yielded $4,235, while WYCC collected $2,300; and regular cash donations, equaling a little more $1,700, according to Dennis Cooke, a Cypress Landing resident, who aided in heading the fundraiser. The sale of bows to area businesses and community members was the biggest component of the fundraiser in terms of money raised. Thanks to Deborah Page Wright, who donated all the ribbon used to make the bows, all the proceeds from that particular component will go to help patients of the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center.

“We did really well,” Cooke said. “A lot of individuals came together and committed themselves. It was really great how the two clubs worked together. Everyone put 100 percent into this to make it work and obviously it worked out well. It’s been fun. It’s a lot of work, but it’s well worth it. It just takes a lot of effort and a lot of people working behind the scenes that makes this go.”

According to Kristi Fearrington, oncology social worker at the center, the fundraiser makes many ideas and programs at the cancer center, as well as assisting patients, become a reality. The center serves cancer patients within its five-county service area, including Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, Martin and Pitt counties.

The center will continue to offer complimentary therapies and educational programs it has offered before, such as massages, yoga and pet therapies, as well as assistance for those who may be financially burdened by their condition. From money raised in past years, the center has also been able to offer patient assistance such as transportation, paying bills, garments and wigs needed as a result of a diagnosis and treatments, paying for over-the-counter medications needed for side effects of treatments and cancer, walkers, wheelchairs and oxygen tanks. The center has even been able to assist some younger patients with fertility testing and sperm bank storage due to impotence from treatments, Fearrington said.

However, with the initiative raising more money this year than ever, the center will be able to more of what it already offers and help people in more ways than before, Fearrington said.

“Our new Shepard Cancer Foundation budget starts Oct. 1,” Fearrington said. “With us having this latest fundraiser, that opens a lot of opportunity to think outside the box and get some input from our board and staff. We have a few ideas and thoughts that haven’t been approved yet, but we are really excited for some of the things we’re thinking and talking about. We have helped with so many things it’s hard to name them all; it’s mind-blowing. But we would like to say ‘thank you’ to the community (for their contributions).”