This year’s Point Clear Polo Classic is expected to raise the most money for cancer research and treatment and have the largest crowds in its 20-year history.

“This is going to be the largest one with the Grand Hotel as sponsor,” said Anne Nix, event co-chair. “What’s most important is that it’s for a charity that will touch somebody in most families.”

Polo matches for charity have been played in one form or another since the polo fields were built in 1987 in the scenic rolling green hills near Fairhope, Nix said. Later, the nonprofit Point Clear Polo Foundation was established to better support charitable causes in the area.

The current event was organized several years ago to focus most of its fund-raising to support the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Cancer Institute.

“You don’t have to go to Birmingham any more for treatment,” Nix said. “We’ve got wonderful doctors. We’ve got it all here now.”

Gordon Moulton, president of USA, said the event and foundation have contributed $2.5 million to USA’s cancer institute and recently fulfilled a pledge made five years ago to raise $500,000 for its work.

“Thanks to the generous support and leadership of the Point Clear Polo Classic and Point Clear Polo Foundation, the cherished dream of research-based cancer care close to home is now a reality,” Moulton said.

Although the charity event activities have included tennis matches, player parties and qualifying matches earlier in the week, the big day is Sunday, Oct. 7, with the gates opening at 10 a.m.

A silent auction runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with several hundred items to be auctioned in all price ranges, including an offshore fishing trip for 12, a football signed by Nick Saban, a four-day cruise, numerous art items and a catered dinner for 12 at USA President Gordon Moulton’s home.

“My father was diagnosed with cancer about 18 years ago, and he’s a cancer survivor,” said Shelley Milam, a local attorney who organized the silent auction. “I feel fortunate to donate my time for cancer research in honor of my father and in the hope for other cancer survivors.”

Nix is also a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992.

“They didn’t give me a year to live,” she said. “I had all my chemo done at USA.”

She said that she is free of cancer now and only requires occasional check-ups.

Last year the event sold 500 tickets for the catered luncheon on the tent side of the field where tickets cost $100 and 600 tickets on the tailgate side of the field where tickets go for $10.

“Since I’ve been involved and started doing the administration in 2004, the numbers have been going up,” said Marcella Franssen, in charge of ticket sales for this year’s event. “Tailgate used to be about 400 and the luncheon tent about 350. This year we have 19 sponsors including the Grand Hotel as the presenting sponsor, and a lot of them are getting more tickets than come with their sponsorship.”

Mike Lyons, Lyons Share Gallery owner in Fairhope, is coordinating the tailgate side of the event this year, and he expects a full parking lot of people who come with families and kids to relax, eat and “watch the match if they’re so inclined.

“There’s a lot more activities for kids this year, and there’s also food for sale by Los Tacos if you don’t bring your own,” he said. “It’s just a good time on a beautiful piece of land where you don’t always get to hang out.”

FAIRHOPE — At 1:35 p.m., there will be a competition where children can hit polo balls from a wooden horse. There will also be a train ride, face painting and other activities, Lyons said.

Two polo matches are played on Sunday with the “Charity Cup” starting at noon and the “Grand Hotel Cup” starting at 2:30 p.m.

“I don’t think most people realize how exciting and exhilarating the sport is,” said Hutch Radcliff, an event organizer who took up the game about seven years ago. “It’s just a fast and invigorating high-energy activity. It’s also a great thing to watch for anyone who has ever been in awe of a beautiful horse.”

For general information, call Nix at 928-8830 and for ticket information, call Franssen at (251) 517-4107.