In the midst of a struggling economy due to the oil spill, a tried and true event managed to raise its numbers.

The 13th annual Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation Professional Rodeo outdid itself this year with numbers upwards of 8,000 during its three-night run.

“(It’s) a huge economic impact to the area from a positive standpoint,” JCMF President Frances Holk-Jones said. “It shows how much the community supports the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation.

“Even as tough as times are for everybody, our sponsors are supportive, our community is supportive and we are overwhelmed with the response we’ve received.”

Last year, Holk-Jones said the event expanded to three days and showed strong numbers — numbers which continued to grow this year.

“It’s just such a solid event. It continues to grow,” she said.

And all proceeds go directly toward the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to offer assistance in suicide prevent and crisis management, through a peer helper program.

And it’s a program that continues to grow.

“Two weeks ago we trained some schools in Decatur and trained some around Andalusia and we trained some in Tuscaloosa.

Next up is a National Association of Peer Program Professionals conference in February.

And while the overall profit has not yet been tabulated for this years’ event, Holk-Jones said she has confident the number will be strong.

“I feel very comfortable that we’ll be able to continue to do bigger and better things in the school system in Baldwin County,” she said.

And in direct relation to the oil spill crisis, the peer helper program has the potential to be needed now more than ever.

Because as Holk-Jones said, it’s the day-to-day crisis management and support that the program offers, and nothing now is more taxing on this area than the ever-lurking oil spill.