LYLE — The Lyle Area Cancer Auction starts tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Lyle American Legion. The auction runs until around 1 a.m. Saturday before taking a break until around 11 a.m. Saturday morning. It ends when the auctioneers sell the last item.

All the items auctioned are donated, and many area businesses donate their time and products for the event.

“A lot of people say, I’ve been to an auction,” Larry Ricke, co-chairman of the Lyle Area Cancer Auction. “I guarantee you, you’ve never been to an auction like this. It’s not an ordinary auction.”

Gift cards are one common item auctioned off, and Ricke said they almost always sell for more than their value.

The auction, which raised about $5,300 in its first year in 1980, has raised more than $100,000 for cancer research every year since 2004. Ricke and event organizers present the funds at the Eagles Cancer Telethon in Rochester on Sunday.

The proceeds then go to groups like the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic and the Hormel Institute.

The Lyle Area Cancer Auction isn’t the only event, as a number of events are held throughout the year leading up to the auction, including the Halfway to January Cancer Bash, Crop for a Cure, a pool tournament in Carpenter, Iowa and a Harley Davidson raffle.

Each of these groups presents a check to the cause during the auction.

“The auction is kind of like baseball in that it’s our ninth inning,” Ricke said. “We’re coming in for the homerun. That’s when all the other committees come in and present a check of what they raised, and we tally it all together. It’s amazing how many volunteers make this thing click.”

Lyle Area Cancer Auction

Jan. 15, 6 p.m. — approx.

1 a.m.

Jan. 16, 11 a.m. —

until last item sold

Live and silent auctions,

presentations, food &

entertainment both days

An auction to see for yourself

& remember

To donate, volunteer your time,

or for more information

contact Teresa at (507) 440-0314

or Russ at (507) 440-3793