By Devonte Demby/The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — A pink wave flooded downtown Natchez Saturday as the community pulled together to run for a special cause.

The Cathedral Pink Wave Project, a non-profit fundraiser to help fund cancer research, hosted its first 5k walk/run in honor of those who have been impacted by cancer. Approximately 123 runners participated in the run.

In its third anniversary, the Pink Wave Project continues to take over the Cathedral football field once a year.

Players honor those who have fought cancer by donning a pink jersey to celebrate and honor their loved ones who fought against cancer. The annual pink game was Friday night.

Proceeds from the event will go to Relay for Life, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Blair Batson Children’s Hospital.

Race Chairwoman Joanna Brumfield and Pink Wave Project organizer Kappi Rushing decided to add the run to Cathedral’s existing cancer fundraiser events.

“It was kind of a mutual thing,” Rushing said. “We were running together last year and thought this would be a great idea for a fundraiser for the Pink Wave.”

Brumfield has been working on Pink Wave’s first 5k run for almost a year.

“We have had a lot of volunteers from school,” Brumfield said. “Parents and students have been very helpful.

“I think the 5k is a great addition to the Pink Wave because running is something that takes a lot of motivation and a strong drive. When you think about those people who are battling cancer or had cancer, it helps to see that we are all fighting for the same cause.”

After making its debut, the Pink Wave 5k has already touched many hearts.

Stephanie Anderson, a teacher at Cathedral, lost her mother to cancer several years ago.

“She came up to me and said, ‘Kappi, I just want you to realize how much this Pink Wave Project affects us. I miss my mother every day and Pink Wave allows me a chance to talk about my mom to others.’ I never thought about it in that aspect,” Rushing said.

Cathedral students volunteered at the run, including tired football players Dee Fleming and Quinton Logan, who played in Friday night’s Green Wave win.

“I think this run is for a pretty good cause, and I really respect those who put this together,” Fleming said. “I know it means a lot to everyone.”

Logan could attest to the importance of this cause as well. He lost his mother, Carolyn Logan, to breast cancer June 6, but in Friday night’s game against Resurrection, he played in honor of her.

“A lot of people that have cancer can’t do this,” Logan said. “But the community has come out to run for each and every one of them.

“It been a big week for him,” Fleming said.

Julia Rachel Kuehnle, senior at Cathedral, found the 5k run to be an amazing feat for the community.

“I love this event,” Kuehnle said. “It’s been big the past two years, but this third year has been insanely huge.”

It’s amazing how many people came out to fight against cancer, she said.

The 5k run brought out the old, and the young.

Jalen McCoy, a freshman at Cathedral, was with his mother Gail McCoy during the 5k.

McCoy took it upon himself to run in honor of his late grandfather, Tom Sherman, who lost his battle to cancer and his grandmother, Barbara McCoy, who is currently fighting breast cancer.

“This event was a good idea because I get to run for my grandparents,” McCoy said. “I know they would be proud.”

Hayes Daly, 13, of Jackson won the race.

“I came out to support cancer,” Daly said. “I’m fortunate that I got to support it doing something I love, running.”

Daly said his trick to coming in at first place was to keep running, even when he got tired.

“I just pushed,” he said.

Brumfield said the 5k run will be an annual event for the Pink Wave Project.