VIDALIA &045; Even when the event had already kicked off Friday night, a steady stream of cars kept coming from all directions to the Vidalia riverfront just north of the Mississippi River bridge.

It had music, but it wasn’t an outdoor concert. It had a stage &045; and hundreds of players &045; but it wasn’t outdoor theater. It had games, but it wasn’t a carnival; plenty of good food, but it wasn’t a picnic or barbecue.

Instead, it was the Miss-Lou’s 10th annual Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s biggest annual fund-raiser.

It’s a chance for cancer survivors and their friends and neighbors to celebrate life and remember those who have passed on. And, most important, it’s their chance to celebrate the money they’ve raised in the preceding months for cancer research and education and assistance for patients and their families still struggling with the disease.

Like JoAnn Crum of Natchez. Earlier Friday, she had brought her father Henry, a liver and lung cancer patient, home from the hospital.

When asked why she turned out at the event as part of the C&M Crawfish and Four Korners Relay team, she held his picture for all to see and couldn’t fight the tears &045; but her voice was strong and determined.

&uot;To support research and diagnosis so we can fight this disease,&uot; said Crum, whose team was participating for the first year.

Others were there as a testament that many have fought the disease and won, living to support the cause another year.

Rosa Norman of Roxie held her head high as she walked the survivors’ lap to start the Relay. Not only is she a breast cancer survivor, but her mother, Carrie, died of colon cancer.

And Relay is her chance not only to help fund research for a cure, but to spread her message &045; get checked for both types of cancer regularly.

&uot;All women should do self-breast exams &045; that’s how I found mine,&uot; Norman said. And support the American Cancer Society, of course, she added, calling it &uot;one of the best organizations around.&uot;

Then there were Maria Bowser and Sue Moeser of Natchez. After Moeser was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, Bowser had a checkup and was also diagnosed &045; something she credits with saving her life.

&uot;I always say Sue saved my life,&uot; Bowser said. &uot;If it wasn’t for her, I might not have gotten checked out.&uot;

Next to her, Moeser was busy looking at the number of teams from local businesses, churches and organizations that had sent up tents around the Relay track, with many participants planning to stay all night long. Their motto: &uot;Cancer doesn’t sleep, so we don’t, either.&uot;

&uot;It’s so wonderful to see people who haven’t had (cancer) coming out to support this,&uot; she said.

Like the team from Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus. Now in their seventh year as a team, Co-Lin students and employees created a caf with a groovy ’60s theme, complete with beads hanging around the tent’s perimeter.

Their theme: &uot;Peace, Love and a Cure.&uot; With bright yellow shirts decorated with flowers &045; and their leader strumming a bright yellow guitar &045; they could hardly be mistaken for any other team.

But their message was the same.

&uot;Everyone knows someone who’s had cancer,&uot; said Co-Lin’s Monica Cross. &uot;So we’re out here fighting for a cure.&uot;