CHOCOWINITY — Cypress Landing Golf Club is gearing up to host an event to show appreciation for active duty servicemen and women in eastern North Carolina.

Cypress Landing will host its eighth annual Military Appreciation Day (MAD), an event that brings active military members from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Base, Camp Lejeune Marine Base and U.S. Coast Guard units, as well as the local Air and Army National Guard and East Carolina University ROTC, for a day of golf, food, prizes and fun, according to Dale Fincke, one of the coordinators of the event.

Fincke said MAD has a multifaceted purpose: to show appreciation for military members’ service to the United States, many of whom have recently returned from conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan; a charity event to donate money to the Fisher House, a nonprofit organization that houses families of servicemen and women receiving treatment at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune; and to show the Cypress Landing residents, and the greater community, support for the military and service members.

Members of Cypress Landing’s golf club, Cypress Landing residents, area businesses and other private contributors fund the event, according to Fincke. The golf component of the event is set up where one member of Cypress Landing will play on a team with three members of the military, which is possible through the donations, Fincke said.

Last year’s event raised over $5,600 for The Camp Lejeune Fisher House Foundation.

“Each year, we get a little bit better and make a little bit better donation,” Fincke said. “It’s a way to show our appreciation, help give back and take care of them.”

MAD features an opening ceremony, including an invocation and color guard, which will post the colors.

Following the round of golf, a dinner, sponsored by Dr. Ainsley Rusevlyan of Roberson Foot Care in Washington, will be held, as well as prize drawings for servicemen and women in attendance.

“A very important part is we rely on donations,” Fincke said. “Everything goes to the Fisher House after we’ve covered expenses. We just rely upon that, and we want to show our appreciation. It’s really great fun. They’re really fine, young Americans, and its gets the residents of Cypress Landing to see what kind of fine men and women we have serving our country.”

MAD is set for May 14, starting at 9:30 a.m.

To donate or for more information, call Cypress Landing Golf Club at 252-946-7788.