The friendly competition among Relay for Life teams in the Miss-Lou helps raise thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society &045; and helps keep those teams going during the long hours on Relay night.

&uot;Team Extreme has one the spirit award the past seven years,&uot; said Julia Drews, a member of the team that is made up of both Natchez Pathology Lab employees and Vidalia Women’s Club members.

&uot;We’re out there to keep the teams going all night.&uot;

Last year, that meant wearing flower hats. This year, Team Extreme members will be dressed as Disney characters.

It’s all part of the massive effort that long-time teams employ to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society &045; and raise awareness about Relay.

Team Extreme has been part of Relay for nine of the past 10 years.

And the Natchez Community Hospital team has been going strong the entire decade the Miss-Lou has hosted a Relay event.

They are just two of the long-time teams that have made Relay successful &045; so successful that participants are hoping tonight is the night the Miss-Lou group hits $1 million in fund-raising for the past decade.

Team Extreme and the Natchez Community team, like many in the Miss-Lou, don’t raise funds just in the weeks before Relay.

They host events throughout the year.

Kim Kaiser of Natchez Community Hospital said her team uses tried-and-true methods for raising money &045; selling food at bake sales and cookouts, hosting softball tournaments and basketball games, holding a raffle.

She credits the community’s support and the hospital employees with the team’s success.

&uot;Most of our money has come from our employees,&uot; Kaiser said. &uot;I have always &045; whether we’re in good economic times or bad &045; been touched by how giving our employees are. They are just remarkable people. It’s all from them.&uot;

Drews, whose Team Extreme holds plant sales, published a cookbook and is planning a dinner show this year, said she once saw a woman who had little money hand over a precious $3 to the cause.

The impetus to contribute to Relay or take part in the fund-raising is universal because cancer touches everyone, Kaiser said.

&uot;Everyone has seen it,&uot; she said.

And watching survivors is inspiring, she said.

&uot;Their determination is unbelievable,&uot; she said, &uot;their faith, their hope.&uot;

Drews agreed.

&uot;I truly don’t think you can find one person who has not been affected by cancer,&uot; she said. &uot;It just gets close to your heart.&uot;