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Sports is about competition. Practicing to get better, while striving to be the best.
At Altavista High School, members of the golf team aren't just battling their rivals. They're fighting a much bigger opponent.
"Golf is about so much more than just hitting a white ball, and chasing it through a green field," said Altavista High School head golf coach, Tim Fenn.
The colonels are battling cancer. It's a disease that has touched many of their lives.
"There's a lot of individuals on our golf team that either have immediate family, or know someone close to them that is a cancer survivor," said Fenn, whose wife Carrie has been diagnosed with cancer three times. The most recent case happened last year.
"She ended up waiting until waiting until the end of golf season to tell me, because she didn't want to interrupt golf season," Fenn said.
"It was tough, because my Dad had to take care of the family while my Mom was going through surgery," said Tim and Carrie's son, Chris, who plays on the Altavista golf team.
Chris and his teammates are using personal struggles as motivation. They're hosting a golf match next week that's doubling as a fundraiser for the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center.
"It's tough what people go through, and they lend support that's far greater than just the medical procedure," said Tim Fenn.
Each player is raising money to fight a certain type of cancer. Opponents from Appomattox and Nelson County high schools are also taking part.
"It's an opportunity to go out and, win or lose the match, all the teams and participants involved will be playing for one thing," Fenn said.
The "Swing for a Cure" golf match will be played Tuesday at the Altavista Country Club.
The team will wear special shirts, sponsored by Dairy Freeze, Subway of Altavista and Lee Racing.
Donations to the golf team can be made at Altavista High School: 904 Bedford Ave., Altavista, Va. 24517, or by e-mailing Fenn at ahsgolf13@gmail.com