NATCHEZ — Since Tuesday’s bank night brought the Relay total for 2011 just short of $148,000, the recent count means approximately $42,000 was raised at the event between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday.

Martin said the committee will meet again in a few weeks for an official count to see if this year’s total came closer last year’s total of $210,000.

Martin said the crowd began thinning around 2:30 a.m., but many troopers toughed out the wee hours on the bluff to go along with the Relay slogan, “Cancer never sleeps, neither do we.”

Thirty-one teams signed up to have tents on the rescheduled Relay night, and they all showed up, Martin said.

She said when the date was pushed back, 15 teams had to drop mostly because of scheduling conflicts, but those teams still did fundraising, Martin said. Eighteen teams participated without tent sites.

The new location of the Natchez bluff worked out well, Martin said.

“It was hot, because (the event) was in June, but the crowd was really good,” she said.

Some participants said they preferred the Vidalia Riverfront as a Relay site because more room to spread out is available, but they enjoyed the view from the bluffs this year.

Martin said the committee has not decided on next year’s Relay location, but the new chairwoman Sherry Kiser, will soon get the ball rolling to wrap up this year and look toward next year.

The following teams and individuals received awards:

– Most money raised by a team, first place — The Markets, $20,137.81; second place — Natchez Educators, $16,680.38; third place — Delta Bank, $15,437.10.

– Most money raised by an individual, first place — Diane Fleming with Walmart, $3,500; second place — Evelyn Smith with God’s Angelic Warriors — $4,451; third place — Patricia Anderson with Concordia Bank, $2,135.

– Best banner, first place — Carry On; second place — Pirates of the Caribbean; third place — First Baptist Church of Vidalia

– Best baton, first place — Walmart; second place — Team Metro; third place — Adams County Nursing Center

– Best T-shirt, first place — Natchez Educators; second place — Pirates of the Caribbean; third place — Delta Bank.

– Best tent site, first place — Team Metro; second place — B&K Bank; third place — Delta Sigma Theta of Vidalia

– Best snack, first place — Natchez Regional Medical Center; second place — Riverland Medical Center; third place — First Church of Natchez

-Best spirit, first place — First Church of Natchez; second place — Walmart; third place — Natchez Moose

– Most laps by a team — Pilgrim Baptist Church

– Most laps by an individual — Dwight Bradshaw

– Turtle award — Team Co-Lin

– Cleanest tent site morning after — Walgreens