They did it again. For the second straight year, the folks in Lyle and the surrounding areas raised more than $100,000 at the annual Lyle Area Cancer Auction.

The 2010 event — held last weekend — raised $119,000 for cancer research, not bad for a rural Minnesota town during the nation’s worst recession since World War II.

How did they do it?

They did it through countless volunteers, people who donated their time to make it happen. They did it through years and years of planning to make this event — in its 31st year — run as smoothly as it does. And they did it through people like you — who donate and donate and donate some more, whether it be providing items or bidding on them.

“It’s a joint effort by everyone,” said auctioneer Dave Thompson, in an interview with the Herald’s Jason Schoonover. “It’s beautiful. It’s like nothing else.”

We agree.

This year’s Lyle Cancer Auction, like every year, was a job well done by those involved, an effort that brings a community together year after year to raise funds — lots of them — for a very worthy cause.