CYPRESS LANDING — For four years, Beaufort County residents have flocked to Cypress Landing to take a special stroll around the golf course.

More than 300 people are expected to take to the golf course Thursday night for the fourth annual Hope and Heroes Walk, a fundraiser for the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, via the Shepard Cancer Foundation. At 6 p.m., participants will tread the golf cart track, walking together to honor cancer survivors and remember those who’ve lost their battles.

Each year the event has grown, according to Mary Jane Cooke, the Hope and Heroes Walk chairperson. Part of the reason is because of the dedication of the volunteers, she said.

“It’s a group effort. We start our meetings like in March and because we have to, because this is for the whole thing — the bows, the walk, the golf tournaments — we meet at least once a month, then the last couple of months, we meet every two weeks,” Cooke said.

The Hope and Heroes Walk is part two of three fundraisers: the first, the sale of purple bows to display on homes and businesses as a symbol of cancer awareness; the third, the “Tee It Up for a Cure” golf tournaments to be held simultaneously on Saturday at Cypress Landing and Washington Yacht & Country Club. Over the past three years, the fundraiser has raised more than $150,000 for the Shepard Cancer Foundation, according to a press release from Vidant Beaufort Hospital.

Nancy Hackett, the events’ overall chairperson, said the walk is a way for people across the county to show their desire to help those suffering from cancer, and those caring for them.

“(Hope and Heroes) brings everybody out and shows the support of the Marion Shepard Cancer Foundation and how it helps everybody,” Hackett said.

The money donated to the foundation is used in a variety of ways to assist cancer patients, survivors and caregivers: support services, complimentary therapies, educational programs and assistance for patients whose cancer diagnoses has caused financial burdens. The programs are available to all cancer patients, regardless of where they receive treatment, the release stated.

“Sometimes people can’t afford meds, gas for the car, wigs,” Hackett said. “They’re dealing with that tragedy and then they’re having to deal with the financial aspect, and that’s just so wrong.”

“We’re so lucky to have (the cancer center) close to us. It’s touched so many lives of our friends and neighbors,” Cooke said.

While the cause is a somber one, the Hope and Heroes Walk is a celebration, one that’s capped off with a pizza party and live music at the Cypress Landing Club House. Because all of the walk and after-party supplies are donated, the event raises even more money for cause, Cooke said.

“There’s not anything that we pay for; nothing comes out of the budget. I mean, the community is just wonderful — the pizzas are donated, the T-shirts are donated,” Cooke said. “It just warms my heart because of the community effort and people.”

When Hackett first arrived at the idea of fundraiser to support the local cancer center, she had no idea the level of success she and the many other committee volunteers would achieve.

“It’s just overwhelming to us, the support this fundraiser has generated. It’s beyond all my dreams that I would ever hope to accomplish. I, for one, am very proud to have been part of this committee,” Hackett said. “It just went from, honestly, a golf tournament to all of this, and it’s just been very, very successful because of the people on the committee who give 100 percent.”

The Hope and Heroes walk begins at 6 p.m. Thursday; last minute registrants are accepted. The Cypress Landing Golf Club is located at 600 Club House Road, Chocowinity.