DOBSON — Surry Central softball might not have came out a winner on the diamond Friday night, but with the efforts of many volunteers the entire Golden Eagle community transcended sports.

The Eagles and Surry Drug put together the first annual “Team Up to Beat Cancer” event to honor cancer survivors and raise awareness, with proceeds going to Relay for Life.

Surry Drug’s Rodney Darnell, a cancer survivor of three years, said events like Friday’s are vital to the fight against a disease which touches countless lives.

“It means everything,” he said. “Number one, I’m blessed. I’m blessed they found my cancer early and were able to treat it early and get me taken care of where I can be here to do stuff like this, to be out here for the community and to support other cancer survivors and raise money for research. Because that’s the name of the game right there — the research.”

Central dropped the Northwest 1A/2A Conference test 12-4 but on the outside, Donna McLamb, who helped organize the event, said everything was a success.

“It’s been awesome,” she said. “We’ve had several cancer survivors attend and we’ve seen a lot of the visitors bring their families as well. I think we are going to have a really good showing and a lot to donate to Relay for Life.”

McLamb said the event could not have been accomplished without the help of numerous volunteers who manned both concession stands and a booth for Relay for Life donations and sign ups.

Survivors were recognized prior to the game and were given pink and green balloons which were released at the conclusion of the ceremony.

McLamb said the idea for the softball event came from the “Pink in the Park” night the Eagles baseball team has put on for two seasons.

“Softball is important too and we wanted to show our support for our community,” she said “We needed to do that and this event is perfect. It’s been a Godsend and everybody has worked together to make it successful.”

Contact Thomas Smith at tsmith@mtairynews.com or 7191-1920.