DAPHNE, Ala.— Everyone loves a sweet treat, but it’s so much sweeter when enjoying it aids cancer research.

At Wright’s Syrup Festival—set for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday—guests can taste fresh cane syrup and enjoy specialty dishes while helping stamp out cancer. All proceeds from the festival—now in its 12th year—go toward cancer research at the Southern Cancer Center and Thomas Hospital Cancer Center in Fairhope, according to organizer Carlos Wright.

“Every family is affected by it,” Wright said, referring to cancer. “I’ve had it in my family,” he said. Multiple Wright family members have dealt with different forms of the same debilitating disease.

In his spare time, Wright collects old sugar-cane crushers and rebuilds them. He plans to use two—one from 1897 and another from 1906—at the festival to produce fresh cane syrup.

In order to extract the juice, sugar cane must be crushed. The crushing process involves breaking up the hard cane nodes and flattening the stems.

The juice is collected, filtered and treated. It is then boiled to reduce excess water.

The remaining liquid sets into a solid form commonly referred to as ‘jaggery’ or ‘gur.’

About 300 people attended last year’s event and Wright expects even more this year.

The American Cancer Society has proclaimed November “Lung Cancer Awareness Month,” with the 33rd Great American Smokeout set for Nov. 20.

The ‘Smokeout’ event aims to inspire and encourage cigarette smokers to put out their butts for one day, according to the cancer society’s Web site.

Wright’s Syrup Festival is at 25459 Friendship Road, located off County Road 64.

Admission is free and donations are encouraged.