AHOSKIE – It’s official – the Josh Lane Golf Classic set a new fundraising record this year.

After tallying all the gross proceeds and paying all the bills, the 2004 version of this annual event to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation netted $40,000 in its ongoing effort to find a cure for this disease.

Founded in 2000, the Golf Classic is the idea of David Lane of Murfreesboro in honor of his now 12-year-old son, Josh, who has juvenile diabetes. The father has promised to continue his efforts to help fund research as long as diabetes still rears its ugly head.

To date, the Golf Classic has raised over $150,000. It is the largest, one-day golf tournament in northeastern North Carolina.

This year, 144 players, representing 50 companies, enjoyed a beautiful day at Beechwood Country Club near Ahoskie. Their participation plus the tee box and hole sponsors along with the major sponsorship of two corporations – Glover Construction and Roanoke Electric Cooperative – are the driving force behind this successful event.

&uot;This is a wonderful opportunity to compete, socialize and raise money,&uot; said David Lane, who serves as chairman of the Tournament Committee.

&uot;Diabetes takes a devastating toll on families.

Insulin is life support, not a cure.

That’s why it’s so important to raise money for essential research.&uot;

Prizes were awarded for the 1st and 2nd place teams. On course, challenges included hole in one prizes, straightest drive competition, closest to the pin, guess the tees and the $10,000 putting contest. A dinner along with a live and silent auction was held following the tournament, an event that raised over $4,000 in its own right.

&uot;We are appreciative of David Lane’s participation in this event,&uot; said Erin Mabry, JDRF Special Events Manager. &uot;His enthusiastic energy and commitment enables us to continue funding the most cutting edge research to find a cure for diabetes.&uot;

JDRF, the leading charitable funder and advocate of juvenile (type 1) diabetes research worldwide, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes – a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.

Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $600 million in direct funding to diabetes research.

In a typical year, 85 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education.

JDRF’s mission is constant:

to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

For more information, visit the JDRF web site at www.jdrftriangle.org or call 1-800-377-0476.