On Saturday, runners gathered at The Sand Bar, which played the starting point for the first Cemetery Run that raised funds for the Selma Police Department and Selma Fire Department.

Organizer Rex Jones said 100 percent of the funds raised would go directly to the purchase of turnout gear for Selma firefighters and for bulletproof vests for Selma police officers.

The idea for the race came to Jones after a young boy was shot on a street in west Selma. A few weeks later a Selma police officer was ambushed and shot just off Broad Street.

“When that young man was shot we put a message on the sign at Vasser’s that said ‘pray for Selma,’” Jones said. “That message was shared throughout the community and people were looking for a way to help. Then there was a fire locally where a fireman had a problem with having appropriate turnout gear, so the idea came to me that we wanted to do something to raise funds to help solve that problem. And when the officer was shot, we realized we needed to include helping equip them with vests, and the ball really got rolling.”

Jones partnered with the Blackbelt Benefit Group, a local non-profit organization, so donations could be tax deductible.

“It just made it easier and cleaner for people to participate monetarily,” Jones said. “And they are well known in our community for putting on great events, so it was logical to partner with them on this.”

Selma City Council President Cory Bowie said this event was helpful to the community, and he looked forward to the event in the years to come.

“I don’t think you could get this response in other towns. Selma people are close enough with each other that they understand what we’re trying to do and see this as a need for our community,” Jones said. “I don’t think you could get that level of support in other places, but in Selma, everybody looks out for each other.”