VIDALIA, La. — This year’s Relay for Life, held from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday on the riverfront, raised more than $81,000 for the American Cancer Society — up about $3,000 from last year.

&uot;This was the biggest turnout we’ve ever had,&uot; said Cyndie Dillon, chairman of the Relay for Life Committee of the Miss-Lou’s American Cancer Society chapter.

Although exact crowd numbers aren’t available, Dillon said estimates ranged from 500 to 1,000 people in attendance.

&uot;I had to leave for a minute … and when I came over the levee, I couldn’t believe all the cars,&uot; Dillon said.

Charlene Rushing, a member of the Relay for Life Committee agreed the crowds were high. &uot;Attendance was much higher than I expected, given the fact that so many graduations were Friday night,&uot; she said.

As of Saturday, the event had raised $81,799.04, but that figure will likely rise, Dillon said. &uot;They’ll continue to give and we’ll take money for probably another month or so,&uot; she said. &uot;It usually ends up a pretty good bit higher than that.&uot;

Almost 40 teams raised money, then participated in the relay Friday and Saturday. Highlights of the event included luminaries donated in honor of those who have survived cancer and memory of those who haven’t, as well as a floodlighted, portable wall bearing their names.

And in keeping with the event’s theme — &uot;Because cancer never sleeps, we won’t either&uot; — plenty of activities were held throughout the night and morning to keep relay participants awake.

Events included the womanless beauty contest and a &uot;mummy wrap&uot; contest, where teams had to wrap one of their members in toilet paper from head to toe.

Other activities included a Gong Show-type talent contest, a midnight snack contest, a hula hoop competition, a pajama parade and a stick horse race. Raffles were held for such prizes as a seven-day cruise for two and a Monmouth dinner and overnight stay for two.

For children, there were a dunking booth, a space walk, pony rides and other activities. Individual teams held their own activities as well, from a cake walk to various raffles.

The event wrapped up with an awards presentation, a farewell lap and a breakfast of cinnamon rolls brought to the site by the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

This year marked the first time the event was held at the site of the new Vidalia Riverfront project.

&uot;It was great,&uot; Dillon said. &uot;The site was gorgeous and the sunrise was beautiful.&uot;

Top fundraisers were:

Teams:

1. Callon Petroleum, $8530.11

2. Concordia Bank, $7,109.69

3. Natchez Market, $7,025.03

Individuals:

1. Angel Lindsey, $2,300.

2. Cyndie Dillon, $2,051.86.

3. Kathy Prospere, $1,500.