Creations of the Heart is helping find a cure for cancer.

No other community resource can have a nobler cause.

The organization's efforts help explain how community enrichment starts with one individual, one group, one "team" of volunteers.

The 2003 Lyle Area Cancer Auction raised $92,500 for the 5th District Eagles Cancer Telethon Jan. 18 and 19.

It set a new record and surpassed the 2002 fund-raiser by over $10,000.

According to organizers, it is a team effort of dozens of volunteers from northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, that results in a successful project.

In all, eight separate fund-raising events are held during the year, leading to the annual auction at Lyle American Legion Post No. 105.

This year, there were several memorable moments at the auction.

One of them came when David Martin, a former Lyle resident, now living in North Carolina, donated $2,000 to the auction. Martin is a cancer victim and he observed, "The Lyle community has some wonderful people."

But other gestures, larger and smaller, helped the Lyle Area Cancer Auction achieve another fund-raising record.

For instance: Creations of the Heart.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the talented quilters in Creations of the Heart drew the lucky ticket. Emily Bartley won a beautiful hand-made quilt.

According to Sandi Brandt, one of the Creations of the Heart raffle organizers, the raffle drawing raised $665 for the 5th District Eagles Cancer Telethon in January.

Cindy (Mrs. Gary) Ziegler said the success of the annual fund-raiser is due to the efforts of the Lyle area cancer team.

As far as the team duplicating or surpassing its efforts next year, Mrs. Ziegler was non-committal.

"If we make one dollar more than the previous year, it will be a success. Every little bit counts," she said.

Thus, an individual's $2,000 contribution and Creations of the Heart's $665 helped enrich the greater Mower County community of people with the displays of generosity.

Proceeds from the 5th District Eagles Cancer Telethon go to the University of Minnesota Hospital, Mayo Clinic and Hormel Institute.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com