FRYEBURG — Friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and strangers turned out in record numbers recently to support 46-year-old Greg Sanborn, a Fryeburg native and chief deputy with the Maine Warden Service, battling T-cell lymphoma.

A benefit supper and auction was held on Saturday night with a stem cell match donor drive held Sunday, both at the Fryeburg Academy gym. More than 500 people showed up to eat and bid on auction items on Saturday night. All items were donated by friends and family and included kayaks, a car, a hunting camp package, catering for 250 and gift certificates.

More than 200 people arrived at the gym on Sunday to become possible stem cell matches for Sanborn. Whether or not a match is found, those tested will be entered in the worldwide donor bank and, if matched, will be available to help others in need.

“The Friends of Greg Sanborn,” a committee led by Ellen Benson Guilford, was pleased with the results of the benefit events. Said Guilford, “The whole community came out to save someone’s life. I’m amazed and just so proud. Greg was not only supported by his friends, colleagues and classmates but by those of his parents and family as well. This small community is very supportive.”

Guilford said, “We had to turn away several folks interested in stem cell matching due to exceeding the 60-year age limit, but they all gave a financial donation. It was very overwhelming. In three short weeks we raised $28,000 and tested over 200 people for matching stem cells.”

For more information or to contribute, go to www.friendsofgreg.net or contact Ellen Benson Guilford at 754-3143.