One area small town is about to continue a tradition of big-time fundraising for cancer research.

The Lyle Area Cancer Auction returns for its 34th year Friday and Saturday at the Lyle American Legion and maintenance building, with the auction running Friday from 6 p.m. to around midnight or 1 a.m., before starting back up at 11 a.m. Saturday and running until the last item is sold.

“It’s like no other auction,” said Teresa Slowinski, one of the event’s co-chairs. “I can’t even think of words to describe this auction.”

Though the event is still a few days away, organizers have been hard at work on the 2013 Lyle Area Cancer Auction, as co-chair Larry Ricke has been picking up items for the last few months.

“Right now it’s crunch time. It gets really, really hectic for us and really, really busy, which is great,” he said. “We love it.”

The auction set another record by raising $171,000 last year. If the auction surpasses $100,000 this year, it would mark 10 straight years the auction has raked in six figures.

But, organizers say they simply want to raise as much money as possible this year, as the committee hasn’t set a goal for the year.

The dollars from the auction stay local, going to places like The Hormel Institute.