It’s pretty amazing what a small community can do when its residents work together for a worthy cause.

Such is the case in Lyle where volunteers have raised more than $1 million over their past 29 auctions that benefit cancer research.

In the last five years, they have raised an average of more than $100,000 each year.

The 2009 Lyle Area Cancer Auction takes place Friday night and Saturday at American Legion Post No. 105.

The Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Unit, Children Cancer Research Unit at the University of Minnesota Hospital and the Hormel Institute in Austin will all share in the proceeds raised by the 5th District Eagles and their volunteers throughout southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa.

The auction items range from Faye Strouf’s canned pickles to game tickets for the Twins, the Timberwolves and the Wild.

Often times, especially in a bad economy, it’s easy just to stop giving back and simply worry about ourselves.

The volunteers of Lyle and its surrounding areas have chosen not to do that, all in the name of the Lyle Area Cancer Auction and cancer research.

It’s an event worth supporting, and we are very proud of all of those involved.