NATCHEZ — The Miss-Lou Relay for Life’s first 5K run/walk and one-mile fun run/walk raised $2,100 Saturday and pushed the annual American Cancer Society’s fundraiser total so far to approximately $197,000.

Miss-Lou Relay for Life Chairperson Sherry Kiser said a combined 58 runners and walkers participated in the 5K and fun run, which she said she hopes to make an annual event.

The overall male and female winners were Brian Agee and Jessi Jones for the 5K and J.R. Forman and Riley Peak for the fun run.

The approximately $197,000 is $20,000 short of this year’s goal of $209,000, but Kiser said she is hopeful that the organization will meet the goal before the fiscal year ends on Aug. 31.

The Markets, Delta Bank and Natchez educators topped the team fundraising efforts with approximately $20,300, $19,000 and $17,500 raised respectively.

Janis Holder, also said some teams have not yet turned in all their money, including a $3,500 contribution she is expecting sometime this week.

Holder said Relay’s May 4 event at the Vidalia riverfront was a great success. She said creative fundraising ideas from the teams leading up to the event helped boost fundraising efforts, including the blue jean Fridays and hamburger sales at the Adams County Correctional Center, the Red Hot Merchants raffles and many others.

“The teams, and especially the team captains, are the backbone of our organization,” Holder said. “Without them and the fundraising they do, Relay would not be possible.”

Approximately $176,000 of the total was raised by the teams and $20,500 contributed by Relay sponsors.

Holder said it is vital the Miss-Lou Relay for Life continues to be successful each year to keep cancer awareness and research at the forefront of people’s minds.

“Cancer does not discriminate based on color, gender or anything else, so we must keep it forefront,” she said. “And Relay is also a fun, family-oriented event for a great cause that this entire community can get behind, and I hope that continues.”

Relay for Life donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 1027, Natchez, MS, 39121.