NATCHEZ — The most popular item bought at Sunday’s annual live auction for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at The Castle must be returned in 365 days.

A silver platter — the same silver platter — has been on the auction block each year since the fundraiser started a decade ago. It began, the first year when the event was a silent auction, as an item up for sale and for keeps.

That year, no one wanted the platter.

The tray ended up selling for $100 to Bobbie and Joe Smith — the couple who had originally donated the platter to the auction.

The next year, the Smiths brought it back.

“It just mushroomed from there,” Smith said.

Since year one, the tray has been bought and returned each year, bringing along with it a new engraving of the purchasers’ names.

On the front, though, is the most important name — Julia Eidt.

Eidt, now 12, was the original inspiration for the fundraiser.

It all started when Malan Parks, former restaurant manager of The Castle and Bowie’s Tavern, heard about Eidt.

Eidt is the daughter of Wray and Jennifer Eidt and was diagnosed with a form of leukemia when she was 2.

Eidt’s uncle, Michael Eidt, came to visit Parks’ husband one night and the subject of his niece came up.

“After hearing Michael talk about Wray’s daughter Julia, I thought, well, Natchez is a very giving community,” Parks said.

So the idea for the event was born. Dunleith’s owners gave it the green light, as long as everything was donated.

Parks got to work, and Lyn Fortenbery, assistant general manager at Dunleith Historic Inn, helped get donations. Everything has been donated ever since, from the auction items to the wait staff’s time.

“It does take some work to make it happen, but it’s just got to where it’s in everyone’s heart each year,” Fortenbery said.

Since its inception, the auction has raised $200,000 for St. Jude.

“We’re really proud of that,” Parks said.

And Sunday, Julia Eidt saw just how much Natchez has given in her honor when she laid eyes on the platter for the first time.

This was the first year Eidt, who lives in Ridgeland, was able to attend, along with her sister, Maggie Eidt, 14, and parents. She is now cancer free. She said she had never heard about the platter before, and saw it for the first time on the table, proudly bearing her name on the front.

“I’ve been so surprised by it,” Eidt said.

The names on the back were also a pleasant surprise.

“I can’t believe this many people donated to St. Jude,” Eidt said.

The platter sold for $4,000 Sunday night, contributing, along with a slew of other packages including lake house stays and jewelry, to the night’s grand total of $21,450 for St. Jude.

In a few years, the tray will find a permanent home — with Eidt.

“The tray goes to Julia when she turns 18,” Parks said.