Bands from across genres took the stage in the Marvin Center Saturday to compete and raise money to fight cancer.

Five local bands, The Mighty Heard, The Couillard Brothers Band, The Legend Lives On, Sam Fox-Hartin and Que Crivella brought an eclectic musical mix to the stage. The Mighty Heard, a mid-Atlantic funk collaboration, ultimately triumphed, winning the competition for the second consecutive year.

The event’s judges – Jesse Overton from the 9:30 Club and two representatives from WRGW, Jesse Regis and Matt Kalan – doled out the awards.

“Overall, I thought most of the bands were really good. I mean definitely an eclectic sound from the five bands,” Overton, who has judged the event for the last four years, said.

The event raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude’s never requires patients’ families to pay for treatment, making donations crucial to the hospital.

Saturday marked the fifth year Marci Hurtado and her 11-year-old daughter Karina Hurtado, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 3, shared their family’s own personal story of their battle with cancer with the audience. The Hurtados attribute Karina’s success to the unique treatments and services that St. Jude’s Hospital provided.

“Hearing the little girl’s story really made me appreciative of the opportunity to be here and to give back to St. Jude Hospital. I think it’s wonderful that we could come and have a good time, but at the same time be supportive of the hospital,” senior Jazmine Dorsey said.

About 200 people came out to listen to the bands, dance and support St. Jude. The event also had a drawing for prizes, including a weekend stay at any Best Western hotel in the country and a one-hour facial at Aveda in Georgetown.

“The turnout this year has been absolutely phenomenal, because I think the diversity of the bands has been spread out so it draws crowds for each individual band,” senior and Epsilon Sigma Alpha treasurer Liz Waltz said. Epsilon Sigma Alpha hosted the battle of the bands and raised more than $4,000 this year.

“Always bigger and better,” philanthropy chair Alina Czaplicki, looking ahead to next year’s event, said.