What a great idea a group of teachers in Suffolk had to raise money.

As a fundraiser for Relay for Life, teachers at King’s Fork Middle School asked Talmadge Darden, a well-known cook from Carrsville and the school’s principal, if he would share some of his recipes for a 150-page cookbook. Darden was honored.

And although the 54-year-old didn’t get to see the finished product due to his passing on May 12, the cookbook helped the Relay for Life team raise $17,000. That’s an incredible amount of money.

The cookbook, which sold for $20, includes a great combination of reasons why someone might want it.

Darden was a popular principal at King’s Fork, where he had worked since the school’s opening in 2001. Everyone wants something from the popular principal.

Darden also was known for cooking gourmet meals for his staff at King’s Fork at Christmas. He also started King’s Fork Catering for retirement parties, new teacher orientations, receptions and banquets within the Suffolk school system.

Darden prepared meals for events at Suffolk Christian Church, where he served as music director. Every November, he cooked up to 600 Thanksgiving turkeys with all the trimmings for Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department.

So that means a lot of folks have eaten his food and were probably thrilled to get a hold of his recipes. Good idea teachers!