VALDOSTA, Ga. — The 12th Annual Doug Henderson III Golf Tournament continued the tradition of helping the community while honoring the memory of a young man who spent his short life reaching out to others.

“We wanted to thank everyone for their continued support,” said Bev Henderson, Doug Henderson III’s mother. “We are excited about what we are able to give back in return. To date, we have given over 172 $1,000 scholarships to area seniors in high school. The rest of the $370,000 has been given to area services.”

Bev Henderson said the family often hears from students who received the scholarship when they graduate from college.

She said it is exciting seeing the students receive the scholarships.

Seeing young people reach goals reminds Bev Henderson of her son.

“Doug was a very motivated young man,” she said. “He was continuously reaching goals in his short life. When we give the scholarships, I want the recipients to see Doug’s picture and we want them to know all about him.”

Douglas Henderson III was the oldest son of Doug and Bev Henderson of Valdosta.

He played for the Valdosta High Wildcats. He had wrecked his knee early in the season but was part of the 1992 national championship Wildcat team. His brothers, Ashley and Justin, followed him playing for the Wildcats.

Doug attended the University of Georgia, studying accounting, earning degrees from UGA and from Valdosta State University. He worked at South Georgia Medical Center, where Bev has worked as a nurse.

Then, Doug Henderson fell from a tree stand, and the Hendersons’ lives changed.

The fall from the tree stand did not trigger Doug Henderson’s cancer. Bruising and swelling from the fall at first masked that he had cancer and, then, as the bruising didn’t heal, further tests led to the cancer diagnosis in March 2002.

Doug Henderson had synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.

The National Cancer Institute describes synovial sarcoma as “a type of soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers of the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body, including synovial tissue. Synovial tissue lines the cavities of joints, such as the knee or elbow, tendons (tissues that connect muscle to bone), and bursae (fluid-filled, cushioning sacs in the spaces between tendons, ligaments, and bones).”

Doug Henderson accepted the news and began treatments. He remained positive that he would beat cancer and continue with his life. It was a painful process, but he endured and inspired others.

Fellow SGMC employees traded vacation time for pay which they donated to Doug, who was unable to work. Doug Henderson was a quiet young man, who led more by example than by words, according to family. He did not wish to draw attention to himself.

On Sept. 6, 2003, 18 months after being diagnosed with cancer, Doug Henderson III passed away. He was 27 years old.

Several months after Doug’s death, the charitable fund was established in his memory. A year after his passing, Dr. Ben Hogan and his wife, Leigh Ann Hogan, were instrumental in starting the Doug Henderson III Memorial Golf Tournament as the major fundraiser for the memorial fund in Doug’s name.

“I want everyone to know the most important thing, that he is in heaven with our Lord,” Bev Henderson said. “He accepted his disease with grace, faith in God and no complaining about ‘why me.’ He never quit, as Coach Nick Hyder preached to the students at VHS.”