The opportunity to make jokes is obvious when the Trenary Outhouse Classic is coming up.

This Upper Peninsula favorite annual event comes up today, the 25th running of the outhouses, with this year’s theme of “25 Years Down the Crapper.”

All kidding aside, the event not only benefits the community of Trenary, with admission button sale proceeds directed to the Trenary Volunteer Fire Department, the occasion is also used by participants to raise funds for other causes.

Like Team Poop on Cancer, a group that has used the race five times to increase breast cancer awareness and raise funds for the Hospitality House of the Upper Peninsula, who run and fund the Beacon House, the Wig Salon and the Hospitality Suites at UP Health System.

Captained by cancer survivor MaryAnn Bernier, through the years, “Team Poop on Cancer” has raised more than $4,000 for charity.

They will be at it again Saturday, with the team’s theme as “25 Years Down the Crapper, But Thanks for the Mamm-ories!”

Bernier has a personal connection to the matter as a cancer survivor who knows firsthand what cancer patients and their families are going through.

“This all started because of my personal experience with breast cancer … the Wig Salon piece was very personal to me,” Bernier explained in a Mining Journal story, noting the Wig Salon helped her greatly during her time in chemotherapy.

Anyone who’d like to help can make donations through Team Poop on Cancer at the outhouse races — they will have cookies and baked goods available in exchange for donations, and Bernier noted some people even make contributions when they take “selfies” with the team’s outhouse.

Those who would like to enter an outhouse in today’s race still can do so. The team registration fee is $40 for adults or $20 for children.

Participants have until 1 p.m. today to register for the race at Official Trenary Outhouse Classic Headquarters, which is the little white building on the corner of M-67 and Main Street in Trenary, according to the race’s website.

Spectators need to purchase admission buttons at a cost of $4 the day of the race. Festivities begin at noon, with the races starting at 2 p.m.

For more information on The Trenary Outhouse Classic, go to www.trenaryouthouseclassic.com.

We hope the streets of Trenary are packed full of spectators and the race teams are plentiful for this Upper Peninsula wintertime event.