The Cancer Challenge celebrated its 25th anniversary by doing what it always does: raising money.
Last week's Cancer Challenge included golf, tennis and trap shooting tournaments as well as a series of runs in Bentonville Saturday, with proceeds going to benefit local cancer causes.
Teresa Burke, interim director for the Cancer Challenge, said that, while donation totals are not yet available for this year's event, the challenge has invested $12.2 million in cancer research and treatment which has provided care to an estimated 425,000 patients.
"Because it is such a milestone... at the gala we concentrated greatly on past achievements... we kind of highlighted how far we've come and things that we've tipped the domino with," Burke said.
The event was put on with a great deal of volunteer work and donated goods.
One volunteer, Robin Gregory, made sure the breakfasts and lunches went smoothly. Meals were put together with donated food and labor, she said, and volunteers regularly fed an estimated 1,000 people.
"We get here about 5:30 in the morning, so we get here pretty early and we leave around 2," she said.
Typically she'll have about 12 volunteers to work with, she said, though quality often beats quantity.
"I've been doing major festivals on Mulberry Mountain," she said. "If you've got really good volunteers, you don't need very many."
Because the challenge has been around so long, she said, there are a lot of returning volunteers who need little direction.
Moreover, she said, the community support makes it a lot easier to put together an event of this scale.
Most events that have been around a while go smoothly, she said, and the challenge isn't an exception, because it is established and well known, which helps it get the support it needs.
Down on the Kingswood golf course, registered nurse Catherine Davitt sat ready to handle any medical issues that might come up.
"Just making sure everybody isn't dying of heat stroke," she said on a hot, humid Friday morning.
She kept a first aid kit at the table, stocked with supplies to handle the more common issues on a golf course: sun screen, bug repellent, elastic bandages and a blood pressure cuff, among other things.
Davitt said that, fortunately, there were no emergencies, but it's important to stick around in case that changes.
It's also important to keep the golfers hydrated, she said.
But overall, she said, this makes for a great work day, meeting new people, handing out snacks and enjoying the scenery.
"We're just having a good time," she said.
General News on 06/20/2018