The 2016 Men in Pink pose with the Relay for Life queens. (Photos by Anthony Richards)

Relay for Life brought breast cancer awareness month to a grand end with a “pink tie dinner” at the Jemison Municipal Complex on Thursday.

Each of the participants in the Men in Pink charitable effort stood up on stage and said a few words to the crowd about the experience of wearing pink each day during October.

“Pink is not normally part of my wardrobe, but I would wear it everyday if it meant finding a cure,” Chris Speaks said.

This year’s fundraising involved a variety of ideas, such as raffle tickets, softball games and rubber ducks.

Speaks sold rubber ducks throughout the month that will be run during a rubber duck race at the Relay for Life event on April 29, 2017 at Clanton City Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“I was in Savannah, Ga. about 15 years ago and they were having a charity duck race,” Speaks said. “I thought it was a neat idea and just kept it in the back of my head all these years.”

Chris Smith took his wardrobe selection to the extreme and made quite the statement by wearing a pink suit everywhere he went from work to Chilton County High School football games.

“Wearing a pink suit always gets you noticed, but those who battle this disease get the same looks that I got on a daily basis,” Smith said.

Every time someone asked him about the suit, he would ask in turn for a dollar.

Tommy Glasscock (right) auctions off rubber ducks and a table donated by Chris Speaks (left).

According to Smith, he received a dollar each time and also received 40 pesos as a donation.

“I may not have raised the most money, but my primary goal in all of this was to raise awareness,” Smith said. “I am probably not going to wear pink again for the next six months.”

Jason Calhoun sold his share of pound cakes to help raise money and awareness for the cause.

“I’ve probably used about four or five tanks of gas delivering pound cakes,” Calhoun chuckled.

Mike Reynolds was named the 2016 Man in Pink for his efforts raising the most money of those involved.

Tommy Glasscock brought an end to the night by auctioning off items that included a necklace from Morlyns Fine Jewelry and a pair of Iron Bowl tickets that captured the full attention of those in attendance. The proceeds went toward the Relay for Life fund.

The current total raised this year is $44,832.74, but is expected to grow even more in the coming months.

“There is a serious side to this that you realize when someone comes up and gives you a hug and thanks you for all that you are doing,” Smith said. “It means something when you stand up for someone else.”