After 20 years, the Over the River Run might have run its course.

The annual 5-mile run and racewalk event over the Mississippi River on the U.S. 80 Bridge is in danger of being canceled this year after River Region Health System pulled out. In addition to serving as the major sponsor in years past, the hospital company organized volunteers, secured permits and handled registration.

Without someone to handle those duties, it’s unlikely the race will have its 21st running on Oct. 10.

In an e-mail to Mississippi Track Club president Jack Ward, River Region marketing assistant Allen Karel said the hospital will not participate this year. Karel did not give a specific reason in the e-mail and did not return calls from The Vicksburg Post.

“As of just a few days ago, River Region has had to step out of its participation in the Over the River Run,” Karel told Ward in the message. “I know that as of right now Ameristar would still be willing to team up with another group to organize the run, and the bridge is reserved for that weekend. We, however, will not be contributing. We were hoping that someone else would pick the event up and there is still time to do that, but as of now it looks like the run will have to be canceled.”

Ameristar is the race’s other main sponsor and has provided financial backing and hosted a post-race party in its parking lot on Washington Street. Bess Averett, public relations manager for Ameristar Vicksburg, said the casino lacks the staffing necessary to organize the race. Averett added, however, that Ameristar would be willing to continue its sponsorship if an organizing group can be found.

“Our role is just as a sponsor,” Averett said. “It’s a great event. Great for the United Way and great for Vicksburg. If another organization wanted to go on with it, we would love to be a part of it.”

Ward, whose group oversees most competitive aspects of the run, said the Mississippi Department of Transportation has shown some interest in sponsoring the event but no definite plans have been set. Ward added that a sponsor likely would have to be on board by the beginning of September for the race to go on as scheduled. He plans to keep the date open on the Mississippi Track Club’s calendar until then.

The bridge is owned by Warren County, and Herman Smith, superintendent, confirmed a request had been granted to use the bridge on Oct. 10, but no permits had been issued. Because of the event’s long history, granting the request is usually a formality, Smith said. If a new group takes over the run it would have to file new requests for the necessary permits, a process that would take about a week, he said.

The Over the River Run is the second of Vicksburg’s long-running road races, along with the Run Thru History in March, which dates to 1979. The fall run has averaged about 500 participants per year, about half the total of the run through the Vicksburg National Military Park each spring. Still, the Over The River Run is one of the bigger runs in Mississippi. River Region donated its proceeds from the race to various charities in Warren County.

A total of 411 runners and walkers participated last year and 356 in 2007. The numbers were slightly off the average, mostly because of a course change that took the 2007 race off the bridge for the first time. The bridge was unavailable because of repair work, so the course ran along Iowa Boulevard. The run returned to the bridge last year.

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com