Cherokee County residents were recognized Monday for their fundraising efforts in the 2009 Relay for Life effort for the American Cancer Society. Even in a recession, Cherokee County residents still found a way to raise more than $270,000 in this year’s Relay for Life.

Cherokee County had a final total of $271,014 when the books were closed in August on the 2009 fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society. The county surpassed its goal of $245,000 for this year’s Relay for Life campaign.

County residents were recognized for their role in the fundraising achievement Monday evening during an awards banquet at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. American Cancer Society income manager Harlan Thomson will find out Oct. 8 where Cherokee County fundraising efforts ranked statewide.

The local Relay for Life event has grown into one of the largest walks for small counties in the state since the Timken track opened in 2003. There were 61 teams involved this year, compared to 47 teams in 2008.

Thomson offered his own explanation for why the county’s Relay for Life event has become so successful.

“We do the ordinary things in Cherokee County better than anyone else,” Thomson said. “We have great teams with creative ideas for fundraising. Every year we add five to eight new teams.”

Relay for Life celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Profits raised from local walks and community fundraising events go to support cancer research.

A popular item among Cherokee County residents this year were “Fight Like a Girl” Tshirts. The chocolate brown T-shirts carry a pink ribbon and were designed by the American Cancer Society to help draw attention towards the efforts to fight breast cancer.

At Monday’s dinner, representatives from the American Cancer Society presented special Relay for Life T-shirts to each county resident who raised at least $1,000 this year.

“We just had an incredible year even with the economy,” local Relay for Life chairperson Jackie Drake said. “It was great to see so many people in the community get that we are all fighting for the same cause against cancer.”