FAITH — Saturday night downtown Faith was rocking with the Fun in Faith event that was a combined fundraiser and memorial for two fallen firefighters and a meet and greet for teachers at Faith Academy.

The event was planned in lieu of a National Night Out, with organizers keeping the focus local this year, but still honoring first responders. Dale Peeler, who has been with the Faith Fire Department more than 45 years, along with most other volunteer departments in Rowan, is one of the organizers of Fun in Faith, and helped put together Saturday’s event.

The anticipated bad weather held off, and the event offered two slip and slides, face painting and playground activities for kids and families, along with an antique fire truck, plus a tank and a boat that Rowan law enforcement uses, on display. Performances that night included Gavin Byrd, Jake Nichols and the Uptown Dueling Pianos all in the bandstand.

A First Responders Cornhole tournament (which also had space for other teams) kicked off at 4 p.m. and on its own, raised $850 for the two firefighters’ families.

Rowan-Iredell firefighters Daniel Sell and Jacob Steele were vacationing with friends in West Virginia in June when both men were involved in an ATV accident. Both men were killed on Friday, June 21, in that crash.

The loss of two, even in an off-duty accident, hit the department and the firefighting family as a whole hard. Firefighters are a tight-knit group, with many crossing lines to serve on numerous departments.

“We wanted to make sure we celebrate our first responders but we really wanted to do something for the families of these two young men,” said Peeler. “We wanted to make the event bigger this year as well.”

In the cornhole tournament, the winning team could choose either $100 or a certificate to play golf. In the end, Bostian Heights ladder 41 took first place, beating Gold Hill ladder 467. The winning team chose the $100 and donated it back to the fundraiser.

In addition, several in the community donated items to a silent auction, including members of Steele’s family, who donated several antique fire items including an antique child’s fire truck pedal cart and fire alarms from several historic locations.

“We’re a family, really, and it’s good to see the community coming out in support,” said Cameron Peeler, Dale’s son and a fourth-generation firefighter currently stationed in Lexington. “It’s a great way of bringing us all together, too.”

“It’s always a great event that gives us a chance to connect with the community as well as each other,” agreed Rowan County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jason Powell.

“These are people who are always thinking of ideas to help people,” said RCSO Captain David Earnhardt. “It’s good to see them getting support now.”

Tara Sigmon, of the Fun in Faith group, was selling tickets for the auction and excited that so many came out in spite of initial forecasts that called for rain. Asked which item in the auction she thought might get the most attention or bids, she said “If I had to pick, I’d probably say the pedal car.”

In total, the event raised more than $3,000 including a $500 donation from the Rowan County Fireman’s Association.

“I really thought it was awesome,” said Peeler on Monday. “There was a lot for everyone to enjoy. It rained early but we still had a great crowd and food trucks sold out. I want to thank the Faith Fire Department, along with all the other Rowan County fire departments, Rowan County Emergency Services, Faith and Granite Quarry police, Rowan County Sheriff’s Department, NC Highway Patrol, and the Rowan County Rescue Squad, which were all represented at our event