By GARRETT NEESE

gneese@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON – After last year’s Relay for Life raised more than $20,000 in the fight against cancer, Michigan Technological University will look to build on that success for this year’s Relay Saturday at the Student Development Complex.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

“It’s really awesome not only to recognize all those people fighting such a tough battle, but to recognize such a good cause,” said Brooke Basto, a member of Tech’s Relay for Life committee. “It’s Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society is such a utilized organization. I don’t ever want to worry about my money not going to someone who needs it.”

Inside the Wood Gym, there will be a wide range of attractions, such as a bouncy house for kids, a MarioKart competition, auctions, raffles, carnival games such as beanbag toss and races with inflatable ponies.

At one booth, people will take pies in the face to raise money. Participants lined up include Tech’s vice president, football coach and members of some of the Greek organizations.

There will be plenty of refreshments available to buy, including cookies and mocktails.

For people looking to relax, there will also be 10-minute massages available for donations.

At 1:30 p.m., there will be a caregivers ceremony with speeches from students who are cancer survivors or have been caregivers.

“All the survivors will do a lap by themselves so we can recognize them, and the caregivers will do a lap with them as well,” Basto said.

That will be followed by a luminaria ceremony at 2 p.m., where there will be bags decorated in honor of loved ones who have had cancer. Because the Relay is inside, the traditional candles will be swapped out for battery-operated lights.

Tech’s Relay has already raised $8,000. They’re also looking to continue their rivalry against Northern Michigan University, which Tech outraised last year.

“They’re our rival, so it would be really awesome to make more money than they did,” Basto said.