Parents turn loss into hope, raise $75K

FAISON — Donna and Denny Lanier faced a parent’s worst nightmare, not once, but twice. They lost their sons, Hill and Wright, to different forms of cancer, 10 years apart. Wright died at 6 years old, and Hill died at 18.

In an interview with Duplin Journal, Donna said they were inspired by their own boys to help others experiencing what they had been through.

“Both of them had the heart, seeing what people were doing for our family, to say, ‘When I get better, we’re going to help other people,’” Donna said. “Denny and I felt like we wanted to do what they wanted to do.”

Last September, the Laniers attended the wedding of one of their son Hill’s best friends. He was marrying Jacy Phaneuf, who was associated with Riley’s Army, a non-profit organization supporting children with cancer and their families in eastern North Carolina. Donna approached Phaneuf with an idea.

“We started talking and I said, ‘Next September, I want to do something for childhood cancer,’” Donna said, adding she wanted to have it at Tara Creek. “I love this place,” she said.

Out of that conversation grew the Camo for a Cause event held Saturday night at Tara Creek. The banquet facility was filled with sponsored tables, as well as food, music, and lots of people. All the money raised went to Riley’s Army, named after Riley Philpot, the daughter of Doctors Kirk and Kelly Philpot of Greenville. Riley died in 2011 at the age of 10 after a four-year battle with pediatric cancer.

Lee Graham, who owns Tara Creek with his wife, Amanda, told Duplin Journal they were blessed to be a part of the event.

“I have been friends with Donna’s sister’s husband, Chuck Farrior, for quite some time,” Graham said. “I knew the family through Chuck. When they decided they wanted to help Riley’s Army, we certainly wanted to jump in.”

Funds for Riley’s Army were raised through the sale of table sponsorships for dinner, as well as through a silent auction and a live auction.

Amy Turner, marketing and operations manager for Tara Creek, said the event’s support was very successful.

“The sponsored tables were all sold out,” Turner said. “The food, beverages and the items to be auctioned were all donated by local businesses and individuals.”

Notable at Camo for a Cause was the number of young people volunteering at the event.

“We were very blessed with a lot of young folks,” Graham said. “We reached out to Harrells Christian Academy, to the Beta Club there, and to some sporting teams at the high schools. We were very happy with the response. These children are giving back to children that are going through some hard times. It makes you realize there is still good in the world.”

Two volunteers were teen musicians Asher Brinson and Charlie Morris, who played traditional and bluegrass music during the event.

Another youth volunteer was the 2025 Teen Miss N.C. Poultry Jubilee, Harley Lanier.

“The whole community being involved is a big blessing and I love being a part of it,” Lanier told Duplin Journal.

Turner estimated the event raised at least $75,000 for Riley’s Army.

“We’ve already set next year’s date for Sept. 26,” Turner said.