News : Cancer patient Halstead thankful after successful softball fund-raiser

Dee Halstead poses with the Swingers; the team won the softball tournament on Saturday.

Like countless others do on many weekends in the summer, scores of local residents gathered to play softball and enjoy hot dogs and other summer favorites.

But the gathering on Saturday had a serious purpose: The tournament at Lions Field was a fund-raiser for breast cancer patient Deanne Halstead.

Several teams played throughout the day-long event while volunteers served lunch and refreshments and accepted donations.

“Wow, what a fantastic day today,” said Halstead. “I am feeling truly and overwhelming blessed and I am having a hard time finding the words. Saying 'Thank you' just does not begin to say enough.”

Halstead thanked friends and family for organizing the event, playing, setting up, and more.

“Thank you to everyone who donated (time, money, food), participated, stopped by, gave hugs, offered words of encouragement, just for being there to support me today. What a great community I belong to,” She said. “I am truly grateful. I know how blessed I am as I have had nothing but love and support from so many since my diagnosis. I am currently fighting the fight and know I will win – how can I not win with so many in my corner?”

"It was more than a softball tournament," says Mackie Stueck, one of the members of the Swingers, which won the tourney. "It was a fun weekend for a great cause and a great woman."