It has become obvious that Spring seems to be the season in which organizations, citizens and the like become motivated to help each other — fundraising, in this case. One would only need to take a closer look around them to see what has been going on in Beaufort County lately.

Fundraising in Beaufort County — it’s certain you have received the calls, or emails or in-person requests to donate your time, money or even resources to the communicating party’s cause or charity. Once you get past the fact that you are being asked to take time out of your day or money out of your wallet, you can see that the efforts made by these organizations, individuals, etc. are for worthy causes, and ultimately, benefit someone you know — whether it be a family member, friend, co-worker or just an acquaintance. Fundraising has been, and remains, the epitome of what life is all about: helping each other.

These organizations, which ultimately represent people in need, depend on individuals and groups in communities such as Beaufort County to sustain their cause — again, fundraising.

Just look at what Beaufort County’s chapter for Relay for Life has been doing to fight cancer — they have been fundraising. These people sacrifice their time, money and resources to develop awareness and help people in the community that may or may not be able to help themselves. They hold yard sales, cook hot dogs — whatever humanly possible to get people involved and to generate funds for these charities. Dawn Johnston, Relay for Life event chair, along with her team of chairman, has devoted countless hours to making phone calls, sending emails and — yes, again, fundraising. And these people aren’t just going through the motions. They have set goals to not only sustain contributions, but to double efforts, if possible. The Bosom Buddies, a local group that survived breast cancer decades ago — they are still giving their time and giving back to the same organization that saved their lives.

Kirk Harris is another individual staying involved. This is a man who not only puts in the time and leg work to get his colleagues, friends, and community members to donate, but he actually suits up to “pedal for a purpose,” cycling more than 200 miles in the NC Tour de Cure to — yes, raise funds — but also, to raise awareness for diabetes.

Groups like these — to name a few — set the bar for community involvement and awareness. If not for them, there would be far fewer individuals that would have a “fighting chance,” depending on their disease. The time these groups put in, as well as the funds they do, in fact, raise, deserves a standing ovation. People working behind the scenes, usually do not want to be noticed, or rarely have the time to, but that should change. If you see these people in action, stop and tell them thank you. If they approach you, asking for your help or contribution, give, if you can. You may not be affected by what they are doing now, and hopefully you never will — but you never know. The work these people put in today could help save your life one day.