Selma and Dallas County Relay for Life has wrapped up for the 2016-2017 year, and event leader Alvin Craig said they managed to exceed their goal.

With a goal of $100,000, Selma and Dallas County managed to raise $102,273 for the American Cancer Society.

“We were elated. We reached our goal,” Craig said. “It means a great deal to me [to have community support],  and it also means a great deal to these cancer survivors and those that are going through the treatments.”

Craig said the money raised goes to a variety of needs for patients and for research for the disease.

“This money helps them,” Craig said. “It goes to their treatment, it goes toward their place to stay and it goes toward their travel expenses.”

Without the funds to help them, Craig said some patients may not be able to get all of the help they need.

“The money is really needed because of the treatments, they cost so much money,” he said. “With the help of the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life, this money helps curve that cost that they receive.”

Craig said being part of Relay is exciting for him, and he is glad to be doing something that helps so many people.

“It makes me feel great to be part of Relay because I have a grandfather who lost his life to cancer and a father-in-law to lose his life to cancer so it makes me feel good that people in the city of Selma support this cause,” Craig said.

Craig said he couldn’t have done it without sponsors and the teams that worked hard to raise the money.

“I would like to thank all of my sponsors, all of the people that gave from $1 to $100. I would like to thank each and every one of those guys because, without those guys, it wouldn’t be possible,” Craig said.

“This could not have been done without Walmart being a big-time sponsor. Walmart raised a total of $21,000 toward out total.”

Craig said after a short break, Selma and Dallas County Relay for Life will be gearing up for the 2017-2018 season in October with the annual kickoff.