VIDALIA — Every year since Cassandra Lynch founded the Krewe of Vidal Mardi Gras parade in 2011, her mother, Ellen Anderson, waited patiently on the sidelines to wave at her daughter and smiled proudly up at her when she passed by on the final float, Lynch said.

Having grown up in New Orleans, Mardi Gras has always been special to Lynch and her mother, and Lynch hopes to make this year’s parade even more special for Anderson, who is now 83 years old, very sick, and is confined to her bed.

“She gets so excited every year when she sees my float,” Lynch said.  “She would always say, ‘That is my daughter, right there.’ This year has a special meaning because she is bedridden and can’t be there to see it. But I really want it to be something she can be proud of.”

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, Lynch said she wants everyone to jump in on the fun and asked for help from friends all over the Miss-Lou.

“I created it just because we needed a Mardi Gras parade,” she said. “I just wanted to do something small, but it turned out to be a really great thing — for my mom, for me, for the city of Vidalia and everyone involved in it. … This year, I want all of the Miss-Lou community to get involved — not just Vidalia, but Natchez and Ferriday, Clayton, Waterproof, Jonesville and anyone who wants to participate.”

Lynch said there is no registration fee to join the parade. The only requirement is that people and floats are decorated in a manner that is decent, non-offensive and respectful.

T-shirts are also available for pre-order until Wednesday of next week, Lynch said, and cost $15 each.

Parties interested in participating in the parade or ordering a T-shirt can contact Lynch at 318-518-7656 or the Vidalia Beautification Committee at 601-807-8260 and can visit the Krewe of Vidal Facebook page for more information, she said.

Lynch said she has had many helping hands over the years to assist her in making Mardi Gras a memorable event for the Vidalia community for the past 8 years.

“I’d like to thank the mayor (Buz Craft) and the city of Vidalia for continuing to support the Krewe of Vidal parade,” she said.