Harlan Thomson, Jackie Drake and Lisa Bell display the awards received Saturday night. The Cherokee County Relay for Life not only set a new local record in 2009, it received top national honors in Columbia on Saturday based on a key fundraising metric.

When it comes to fundraising on a percapita basis, no other county of similar size does it better.

Organizers of the annual local effort to raise funds for cancer research and programs received the national award Saturday as the 2009 Cherokee County Relay for Life campaign raised more funds per resident than all other similar-sized counties in the nation.

Overall, the 2009 Cherokee County Relay for Life raised $271,932 for cancer research, which equated to a per-capita fundraising rate of $5.02. The 2009 campaign had a goal of $245,000 and bettered it by about $27,000.

Underscoring the big hearts, generosity and dedication that can be found in Cherokee County, especially in a time of economic recession, the county’s 2009 Relay for Life per-capita figure was up 11 percent compared to the 2008 campaign, which already was among the top 10 in the nation on a percapita basis.

“Our success starts with a strong committee, then moves on to the leadership of our team captains, then our dedicated team members, and then to the generosity and caring spirit of the community itself,” said Jackie Drake, chairwoman of the Cherokee County Relay for Life. “Cherokee County understands just what it takes to fight this terrible disease,” she said. “In short, we ‘get it’ when it comes to fighting back against cancer.”

Given Cherokee County’s solid efforts in years past, which made it among the top fundraising regions in the country on a percapita basis, Drake said she felt that the local effort would once again receive some national recognition for its 2009 campaign.

But to be ranked number one and to “make history even surprised me,” she said.

Several South Carolina Relays have been in the Top Ten for fundraising on a per capita basis over the years, but no South Carolina Community Relay has even held the top spot until Cherokee County did it this year.

Cherokee County had been climbing the ladder towards that spot for the past few years. It was ranked 8th nationally in 2007 when it raised $4.15 per capita and it moved up to 6th nationally in 2008 when it raised $4.52 per capita.

Cherokee County also received a regional award on Saturday for getting 100 percent participation from county schools, which raised more than $48,000 for the 2009 campaign.

Several Cherokee County fundraising teams also received recognition Saturday for their outstanding efforts. Top Gun team awards was given to First Baptist Church Cooks and Friends and Nestle, which each raised more than $25,000.

Shining Star awards were given to teams from Timken, Newark, Upstate Carolina Medical Center and the Robert Allen Group, all of which raised between $15,000 and $25,000 apiece.

The goal for the 2010 campaign has already been set at $250,000.

With the number-one ranking, Drake said the local campaign has every intention of trying to maintain it going forward.

“This money is going to cancer research and programs that have a local impact,” Drake said.

In addition to research, the funds also help educate the community about early detection, provide for screenings, and also help cancer patients through the recovery process.