If you see someone that looks sleep-deprived Sunday, there’s a good chance they spent the night helping raise money at the Relay for Life of Lincoln County that held at the Exchange Club Park Friday from 6:30 p.m. to around 4 a.m. Saturday.

     The event aims to raise money for cancer research with the goal of finding a cure and helping those with cancer or who had cancer in the past celebrate another birthday.

     Organizer Cindie Chambers said the event went very well.

     “It was great,” she said. “Absolutely fantastic. We raised almost $62,000 overall, and we still have some teams with money coming in.”

     Chambers said it’s not too late to make a donation. They can be sent Kristen Johnson at Trustmark Bank or to Chambers at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

     “If you’d like to make a donation in memory of someone, that would be great as well,” Chambers said.

     Friday night’s relay was the first that featured the sending off of luminaries via small hot air balloons.

     “We’ve had people all over call and tell us they saw them,” said Chambers. “We really lit up the sky.”

     Chambers said there were about 35 luminaries that floated away, which did not include the bags on the ground or the poles that were purchased in honor or memory of someone with cancer.

     Money needs to come in from teams by the end of June, said Chambers, who fully expected them to meet their goal of $85,000.

     “We always expect to meet our goal, and we keep hope alive until the last day,” she said.

     The relay’s most moving moments were the testimonies, according to Chambers, where people told their stories of battles with cancer.

     “Some were very heart-touching, with some people celebrating 30 years of being cancer free,” she said. “Some people were told they would never have children, and then a miracle happened and they had two children.”

     Friday’s relay saw games being played throughout the night, with more children helping out than in years past.

     “The games we played were so much fun, and the children helping out was great,” Chambers said. “Children from Pleasant Grove Methodist Church and Central Baptist Church helped us out.”

     KDMC raised the most money during the relay, with $1,700 coming in Friday night and early Saturday and about $19,400 in total during their campaign.

     “We just want to encourage everyone to continue to support the fight against cancer and come out next year,” Chambers said. “We’re always on the first Friday in May.”

     To form a team, give Chambers a call at 601-835-9403.