NATCHEZ — For the 30th consecutive year, tennis players from around the Southeast will gather in Natchez to participate in the Natchez Community Cancer Tennis Tournament.

The tournament, which benefits the local chapter of the American Cancer Society as well as the Natchez Community Tennis Association, begins Friday and continues through Sunday at Duncan Park, Beau Pré Country Club and Trinity Episcopal School.

Today is the last day to sign up for the tournament. Registration fee is $30.

Tournament co-chairman Noreen Pyron said the tournament helps the local chapter of the American Cancer Society send local children to Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with cancer.

“The money we raise helps us send local kids to this camp,” Pyron said. “The money doesn’t go to the national branch (of the American Cancer Society). It stays right here in Natchez.”

The remainder of the money raised will go toward the Natchez Community Tennis Association, which Pyron said will benefit the tennis community and tennis facilities in the area.

Pyron said they hope the tournament raises about $6,000.

“Our numbers are a little low, but we have a lot of locals who sign up at the last minute,” Pyron said. “We’ve averaged about $6,000 being raised the past few years.”

Pyron said that not only do locals participate, but so do many people from around the Southeast.

“We pull from a lot of areas,” Pyron said. “We’ve got players who are coming from Atlanta, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Tennessee. People who are from Natchez move away but continue to come back for the tournament. They tell their friends about it and their friends come as well.”

And Pyron said many of the people who will be playing in the tournament are cancer survivors.

“We have one man come from Lafayette, La., every year who has just one lung,” Pyron said. “He has an oxygen tank he keeps at the back of the court. Many people play in the tournament because of the benefit of it.”

The tournament will consist of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

And people who aren’t as skilled in tennis don’t need to worry. There are different levels of the tournament based on the skill level of the players.

In addition to the tennis action, breakfast will be served each day and a hamburger lunch will be served on Saturday.

There will also be a cocktail party Saturday night at Green Lea, the home of Stella and Phillip Carby.

Those who don’t want to play and only want to participate in the party, there is a social fee of $25.

For more information, contact Pyron at 601-597-4711, Susan Hogue at 601-446-1340 or the Duncan Park tennis facility at 601-442-1584.