Leigh Struble, far left, Larry Taylor, Brandon Oliver, and Neal Rohrbach of Johnson Distributing Company pose before teeing-off at the Lowndes/Echols American Cancer Society’s Tournament of Hope at the Stone Creek golf club on Wednesday.

VALDOSTA — These days, almost everyone knows a friend, family member, or co-worker that has fought the battle against cancer, and that’s the reason the Lowndes/Echols American Cancer Society’s Tournament of Hope continues to be one of the most popular golf tournaments in Valdosta.

Day 1 of the Tournament of Hope began Wednesday at the Stone Creek golf club with nearly 55 teams making up the field of the 41st installment of the event.

“You know, people ask me, ‘How do you have such a big tournament with such a great turnout?’ Well, you very rarely ask anyone to support this who hasn’t had cancer in their family,” said Ashley Paulk, a former Lowndes County sheriff, and the tournament’s coordinator for the past 34 years. “I lost my sister, my other sister is a survivor, I lost my father, I can just go down the list. My next-door neighbor, right now, is terminally ill with cancer.

“It touches everybody’s family, just about.”

The tournament is expected to raise tens of thousands of dollars this year with all the proceeds going towards cancer research. All items donated furring the tournament, including food, are also donated.

“I come out here just to support a good cause, and have a fun time doing it,” said Larry Taylor, a member of Johnson Distributing Company’s foursome.

With the noble cause of fighting cancer powering the tournament, Young Tillman, owner of the Stone Creek golf course, has made his course available to Paulk for the nearly three and a half decades, free of charge.

“My dad died from cancer, and everybody I know, just about, has been touched, in one way or the other, by cancer in their families,” Tillman said. “So, it’s a good thing to support.

“I went to Emory University dental school, and we had a big cancer research thing up there, so I’ve been able to see some of the research — even years ago when it first started, of course it’s much more sophisticated now — but they’ve made some great strides in identifying the etiology and cures, and everything. I just wish them the best.”

Tournament of Hope participants began teeing-off at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, and despite some threatening clouds above, managed to stay dry while playing through.

Jessie’s Eats and Treats provided food to the golfers, and delivered refreshments by golf cart to the tournament’s participants.

The three-day tournament continues today before concluding on Friday. Paulk hopes that by time the tournament comes to an end, they’ll have raised the dollar that finally ends the fight for good.

“I’m 70 years old, so half my life, I’ve spent out here,” Paulk said. But it’s a great cause. Every nickel goes to cancer, everything that’s donated.

“(Young) Tillman couldn’t be nicer, giving us the golf course for three days. It’s just a good event. One day we’re going to find that dollar that cures cancer.”