NATCHEZ — By 6 a.m. the levee was nearly empty and the tents were almost gone.

The 2008 Relay for Life had come to a close — a successful close at that.

Relay Chairman Janis Holder said this year’s relay netted approximately, $215,000.

“That’s down a little from last year,” she said.

But Holder said it’s actually not unusual to receive up to $25,000 in late donations.

That puts this year’s total haul closer to $235,000 Holder said.

Last year’s Relay netted $272,000 Holder said.

“But I’m thinking $235,000 is still great,” she said. “Especially for our size.”

Holder said Natchez is widely recognized as having a unique ability to raise large donations relative to its population.

Event organizers from Hattiesburg, Meridian and Jackson were in town earlier this week to study why the Natchez area is able to get such high donation ratios.

But Holder already knows the answer.

“This is an area with a lot of compassion and a good competitive spirit,” she said.

And while the area’s compassion and competitive spirit was visible on Friday night attendance was down slightly.

While taking her tent down early Saturday morning Tonya Doucet said she had noticed a smaller turnout than last year.

“I’m not sure why,” she said.

Holder said she thinks warmer than normal temperatures kept some at home for this year’s Relay.

“It was hot out here,” she said.

The event is normally scheduled for early May, however since the flooded Mississippi threatened much of the area where the walk happens it was pushed back.

“It was a little to dangerous to be out here with the river,” Holder said.

In the time the event was delayed the weather got hotter.

Holder said she believes many of those going through cancer treatments simply don’t have the strength to endure the heat.

“It can be very difficult for them,” she said.

Holder estimated that 1,000 fewer people attended this year’s event competed to 5,000 from last year.

But for those who did both Holder and Duocet were grateful.

“It’s good cause,” Doucet said. “This is what people should be doing.”