The 2009 Pike County Relay for Life campaign was been selected a nationwide American Cancer Society Top Ten Per Capita Award winner.

The announcement was made at the 2010 Relay for Life team captains’ luncheon Thursday at the Troy Recreation Center.

Claire Murphy, board member, made the announcement and presented a recognition certificate and banner to Pam Little and Rhonda Tuberville, captains of the 2009 and 2010 fundraising campaigns.

Murphy said the national recognition was achieved under the leadership of the Relay captains, through the hard work of the Pike County Relay for Life board and the Relay teams and the generosity of the people of Pike County.

“This just goes to show what can be accomplished when a community comes together,” Murphy said. “The 2009 Pike County Relay for Life campaign was second in per capita fundraising in Alabama with $6.84. That means that the average giving for each person in Pike County was nearly seven dollars. That’s tremendous.”

The ranking for the nationwide per capita winners is not given, only the Top Ten distinction.

In a letter to the Pike County Relay for Life board and teams, Bob Gross and Laura McCormick, Nationwide Relay Advisory Team co-chairs, commended Pike County on its achievement.

“Your winning exemplifies the tremendous time, energy and passion you commit to making Relay for Life a success in your community,” the co-chairs wrote. “Your dedication and resolve to help eliminate cancer is what fuels the American Cancer Society’s mission to help people stay well, help them get well, to find cures and to fight back. Today, fewer people are dying from cancer and we learn more every day about the causes of cancer, its treatment and cures.”

Murphy recognized SARHA as the top fundraising team for the 2009 Relay for Life with $20,000 raised and Air Tek as the highest per capita fundraiser. Air Tek and Boots & Boogie each raised more than $15,000.

First United Methodist Church of Troy raised $10,000-plus to round out the top four teams in fundraising.

First Baptist Church of Troy, Troy Regional Medical Center, Wal-Mart DC, Sikorsky and Troy Bank & Trust raised $5,000-plus.

The teams that raised more than $2,500 were Brundidge United Methodist Church, Charles Henderson Middle School, Charles Henderson High School, Collegedale Church of Christ, Park Memorial United Methodist Church and Pike County Courthouse.

Murphy congratulated all of the teams that participated in the 2009 fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society. She said it takes everyone working together for a campaign to be successful. “And, together we will win the fight against cancer.”