Entertainment

Fight 4 Cure Inc. holds annual Charity Car, Truck, Bike show

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Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Written by Max Atkeson

Car, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting event this June. Not only will participants get to show off their sleek vehicles and win awards for it, but have a chance to give to those in need. Fight 4 Cure’s annual Charity Car, Truck and Bike Show offers the opportunity to help raise funding for support programs provided to adult cancer patients.
Scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., this event is located at the Jordan Soccer Complex at 445 Treetop Dr, Fayetteville.
This event is much more than an automotive show. The charity show isn't just about the vehicles but the people behind them. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with fellow car, truck, and bike lovers, share tips and tricks, and forge longstanding bonds that go past automotives. It's a community coming together, united by a shared love for wheels and a shared commitment to making a difference.
Fight 4 Cure was founded in 2018 to assist adult cancer patients who might not have the support needed for their journey.
Dr. Lisa Wright, who spoke on Fight 4 Cure Inc’s behalf, said, “We work one-on-one with adult cancer patients as well as with their healthcare team. Any funds received are allocated to the various support programs provided and dispersed via grant checks to patients, via gift cards, and the purchase of various items for care boxes provided to adult cancer patients in active treatment or about to start treatment. Receiving a cancer diagnosis is difficult for many and for those not having the support to get through this can have a lasting effect, so we try to provide support to let adult cancer patients know 'They Are Not Alone' and help promote their well-being while they are in active treatment, about to start treatment or in follow up care.”
Enthusiasts and aficionados from all corners of North Carolina have the chance to display their prized possessions. From classic and nostalgic cars to cutting-edge motorcycles that embody speed and innovation, every make and model will have its moment to shine.
Each vehicle requires an entry fee. Participants can expect to pay $20 per vehicle and $15 per motorcycle. 100% of fees and proceeds will be used for the support programs mentioned above. Those participating can register once they arrive at the show anywhere between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Once registrations are complete, judging for both motorcycles and vehicles will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Awards in the form of plaques and trophies are set to be presented at 4 p.m.
Expect to see vendors of all kinds for everyone to enjoy.
Those who can’t make it to the show can make a donation through https://www.fight4cure.org/be-a-champion or attend any of the other events Fight 4 Cure Inc hosts each quarter.
Whether you're a die-hard gearhead or simply looking for a fun-filled day to show off something you love, the annual Fight 4 Cure's Charity Car, Truck, and Bike Show promises an experience unlike any other. So mark your calendars, polish your vehicles, and get ready to rev your engines for a cause that truly drives change.

Party with a purpose: Legends' annual Spring Fling

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Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Written by Katie Herring

On May 31, June 1, and June 2, Legends Pub will host their 28th Annual Spring Fling. For three days, staff and volunteers will host a big party and raise money, all of which will benefit Wreaths Across America.

The History
Over 30 years ago, Holly Whitley would host a huge party at her home with her friends, which they began to call Spring Fling. After purchasing Legends Pub in 1996, the Gypsy Women, the nickname the group had gained over the years, decided to move the party to the bar.
After finding out about a friend who had been injured in a motorcycle accident, the group decided to turn the party into a fundraising effort to help with medical expenses. For the last 28 years, Spring Fling at Legends Pub has been a party with a purpose, some years raising upwards of $50,000 to help various people and groups.
Legends owner and original gypsy woman Whitley says that the heartbeat of the Spring Fling is the volunteers. They make the event possible, helping with all aspects of the multi-day event. Volunteers consist of current and former staff and regular customers. Whitley said, “A lot of people who volunteer their time have been part of the Spring Fling from the beginning.”
Even people who have moved away from the Fayetteville area will come back to help make Spring Fling a success; it’s as much a part of their year as any other annual holiday celebration. People who are part of the Legends Pub community want to help others and will do whatever they can to help the fundraising event succeed.

The Cause
This year’s Spring Fling will benefit Wreaths Across America. WAA is a national non-profit organization that seeks to ensure every veteran in America has a wreath on their grave. They work year-round to raise funds that go directly toward the purchase of wreaths.
The organization’s mission is: “Remember. Honor. Teach. Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.”
Wreaths Across America serves more than 4200 cemeteries nationwide. Of that number, only 300 are state or national cemeteries; the rest are private areas. To qualify for support from WAA, a cemetery only has to have one veteran buried there. Funds raised by WAA go to put wreaths on graves at Alloway Cemetery in Red Springs, NC, the Sandhills Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake and the Fort Liberty Main Post Cemetery.
Wreaths Across America Day is December 14, 2024, a day when volunteers participate in a ceremony that places a wreath on the graves of veterans, in every state, and even abroad and at sea. From the Wreaths Across America website: “When you volunteer at a cemetery near you on National Wreaths Across America Day, you’ll play a valuable role by placing live, balsam veterans' wreaths on the headstones of our fallen heroes. Wreaths Across America believes the tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families. When each wreath is placed, the servicemember's name is said out loud, ensuring their memory lives on.”
Anyone interested in helping to lay wreaths and honor the memory of veterans is welcome to volunteer. You can find more information at wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Julie Bright, Director of Locations and Groups for this region of the country, has worked with Wreaths Across America for over 15 years. She and her husband Geoff approached Whitley about assisting with fundraising that will help to provide wreaths in our region. It was decided that all funds raised at the 2024 Spring Fling will go to benefit Wreaths Across America and the important work that they do.

The Event
This year’s Spring Fling will kick off on Friday, May 31 with a pool tournament. Local favorite Taco Arepa food truck will be on-site and the tournament begins at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 1, features a Poker Run. The first bike will roll out at noon. Stops include VFW 670, Kraken Skulls, and Charlie Mike’s. For those who may be unfamiliar, a poker run is a group motorcycle ride in which all participants receive a playing card at each stop on the route.
Whoever has the best poker hand by the end of the run, wins. Cost to participate in the Spring Fling poker run is $10 per person, plus $5 for each additional hand.
Immediately following the poker run on Saturday is an auction. People in or connected to the Legends Pub community donate items to be auctioned.
One interesting item included in this year’s auction is a tire from a racecar, signed by Richard Petty. The auction should begin between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., when the poker run ends.
The fun continues on Sunday, June 2 with a Bike Show. Sign-up for the bike show is at 2 p.m., with judging taking place at 4 p.m.. To wrap up the weekend, the auction will continue following the bike show.
Legends Pub is located at 4624 Bragg Blvd in Fayetteville.

(Photo: The Gypsy Women from Legends Pub pose with the Wreaths Across America car in front of Legends Pub, May 11. The group puts on the Legends Spring Fling, a large, three day party that benefits the community. This year's recipient will be Wreaths Across America. Photo by Aly Hansen)

Er’Body Eatz hosts inaugural community kickback, promotes food security

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Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Written by Amber Little

J’Kwon Fulmore is looking to make an impact when it comes to food security in Cumberland County. He is hosting the inaugural community kickback, essentially a big cookout, at the Crown Coliseum VIP Parking Lot West located at 1960 Coliseum Drive on June 8 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. through his nonprofit Er’Body Eatz. This event is free to the community and will feature food, vendors and live music.
The purpose of the kickback is to bring the community together to learn about the fresh food options around the Cumberland County area, such as butchers and farmers.
“It’s our first community kickback. This is essentially our introduction to the Fayetteville area. We are working on introducing ourselves to the whole Sandhills region. But we are starting in our own backyard. We are going to be utilizing the Crown West VIP parking lot to congregate with the communities and allow them to meet their local farmers, butchers, vendors, and resources they may not get to interact with on a daily basis.
"Essentially this is just going to be one giant Saturday cookout. We are going to have 9 or 10 volunteer grill masters on the grills. I do teach at FTCC, culinary arts, so I am going to have some of my students out there doing their thing as well. It’s completely free to the public, we are applying for grants to fund the whole thing so we just ask that you guys come out, hang out, and come hungry. We will have a bunch of vendor tables out there. They are also selling some things they want to as well,” Fulmore said of the upcoming event.
A Fayetteville native, J’Kwon Fulmore's life journey has taken him all over the country, picking up new skills and experience at every stop. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and retired private chef, Fulmore is well-versed in food.
Er’Body Eatz is a passion movement of Fulmore. After traveling with his pro-athlete clients to their hometowns to teach about nutrition and sustainability, he knew it was time to come home and spread that knowledge to the people in his hometown.
“The point of Er’Body Eatz is to one, teach sustainability, gardening, and homesteading in an urban environment, but number two, what to do with that produce after we harvest it because it’s only half the battle to receive those goods, the farm fresh groceries and things of that sort. But if you don’t know what to do with it, that’s how you end up boiling broccoli until all the nutrients are out of it or using your fresh potatoes and deep fry them in oil. You’re not getting any of the benefits of the things you’re supposed to be getting,” Fulmore said, explaining the purpose behind the project.
From the kitchen of Le Cordon Bleu to the classroom at FTCC, Fulmore plans to pour his experience, knowledge, and passion back into the community that raised him and create a more food-secure and sustainable future for the coming generations. Fulmore is on a mission to put community gardens all over Cumberland County and beyond. Er’Body Eatz is currently seeking monetary donations and land donations for the community gardens.
To donate to Er’Body Eatz, visit the GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/9ac40a43. To learn more about what the organization does and how you can get involved, visit the website, https://erbodyeatzordering.wixsite.com/mysite.

(Photo: J'Kwon Fulmore, the mind behind Er'Body Eatz, is a Le Cordon Bleu graduate and teacher at FTCC. Fulmore hopes to bring food security and awareness to the Sandhills region. Photo by MelaJay Photography)

U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst

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Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Written by Alyson Hansen

The United States Open Championship is returning to North Carolina, June 13 through 16.
The U.S. Open will be held at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club's Course No. 2, which has been the site of more single golf championships than any other course in the U.S.
The course was designed by Donald Ross in 1907, and saw a redesign in 2010 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
The U.S. Open is truly an open competition. Anyone can compete in qualifiers to have a chance at the winner's purse. Amateurs have to have a handicap of .4 or lower to compete at a local 18 hole qualifier. Then the competition proceeds to a final 36 round qualifier before the U.S. Open.
In 2023, 10,187 players competed across the U.S. for a chance to tee off in the U.S. Open. This year, Tiger Woods received a special exemption to compete at the 2024 U.S. Open, and will be a part of the more than 150 golfers, both amateur and professionals, who qualified for the event.
Tickets for the event can be found at https://www.usopen.com/2024/2024-u-s--open-tickets.html. Parking for the event is outside of the resort with a complimentary shuttle. A list of prohibited items can be found at https://bit.ly/3yvb0iI
The United States Golf Association also officially opened Golf House Pinehurst in early May. The seven-acre campus is located next to the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club main clubhouse. The new location includes the organization’s equipment-testing and research facility, the visitor-friendly USGA Experience, an outdoor educational landscape feature and the recently relocated World Golf Hall of Fame, as well as administrative offices.
“When I joined the USGA, I shared with our internal teammates that while the USGA will always celebrate history, we’re not going to be afraid to make some. Today is proof positive that we’re just getting started,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, during the Grand Opening Celebration. “In four years, we’ve gone from vision to reality, and achieving this important milestone is the action of more than a visitor, but a neighbor. Together, we’re going to do great things for the good of the game that will live on for another 20, 50 years and beyond.”
Included within Golf House Pinehurst are:
• The World Golf Hall of Fame, where sports fans can discover and relive the legacies of those who made the game great;
• The Glade, the USGA’s outdoor learning landscape that will help to elevate awareness of the USGA’s ongoing work to help make golf more sustainable, with native plants and pollinator habitats;
• The Grove, a restoration of the ancient longleaf pine forest native to the region, through a unique partnership with North Carolina State University;
People can visit Golf House Pinehurst 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. In honor of the grand opening, admission is free through the month of June.
To stay up to date to the players who will be participating in the U.S. Open, visit https://www.usopen.com/.