LUTCHER — This year’s Relay for Life Event at Lutcher Park mimicked a scene from Disney as teams decorated booths in an effort to relay for “More Happily Ever Afters.”

Thanks to hundreds of dedicated individuals, teams, sponsors and Leadership Team Members, St. James Parish’s Relay broke records earning over $250,000 in the fight against cancer — nearly $100,000 more than the parish’s previous highest earning.

Leadership Team Members from businesses across the parish worked year-round to plan and promote this year’s event which attracted several teams, survivors and hundreds of participants contributing not only on event night, but also throughout the year by actively participating in the many fundraisers facilitated by teams.

Teams and attendees participated in several fun competitions throughout Relay night and were awarded for their campsites, cooking and creativity. In addition, at the close of Relay, top fundraising awards were presented. This year, Team Nucor was the highest fundraising team having raised over $100,000—a new team record—throughout the Relay year.

Where does the money go?

Relay for Life is a lot of fun and games, but the purpose of fundraising is best stated by the American Cancer Society’s mission of “eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.”

The American Cancer Society is the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit source of funds supporting scientists studying cancer.

Research and grants funded by the American Cancer Society spans numerous areas — including how best to prevent and treat cancer, why and how cancer comes about, what cancer survivors need most and how to ensure equal access to cancer care.

In addition to funding lifesaving research, the American Cancer Society supports patients through free or reduced lodging, peer support groups, rides to treatment and 24-hour access to information.

Based on the organization’s financial statements ending in December 2014, over $260 million was spent on patient support (42.2 percent), over $150 million was spent on research (24.4%), over $113 million was spent on prevention programs (18.4 percent) and over $92 million was spent on detection and treatment (15 percent).

For more information call 225-767-4558.

Fundraising Awards: Highest Fundraising Rookie Team – The Babin Crew; Most Improved Fundraising Team – Team Nucor; Highest Fundraising Family Team – Team Louque; Highest Fundraising Industry Team – Team Nucor; Highest Fundraising Small Business Team – Louisiana Federal Credit Union; Highest Fundraising School Team – St. Peter Chanel; and Top Online Fundraiser – Tim Louque.