Kids in Lehi will get a rare chance to climb behind the controls of real construction equipment, all in the name of fighting childhood cancer. The Big Dig: Construction vs. Cancer, a family-friendly fundraiser, will take over Mountainland Technical College’s Lehi campus, giving attendees the opportunity to operate excavators, scissor lifts, and other heavy machinery while supporting pediatric cancer research.
According to ABC4 Utah, an earlier Big Dig was held on a Friday at the Utah State Fairgrounds from 5 to 8 p.m. The event at Mountainland Technical College in Lehi is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mountainland Technical College itself confirmed that pediatric cancer survivors were invited to attend with their families at no charge for that event, according to mtec.edu.
Real Machinery, Real Impact
Attendees of all ages will get hands-on time with actual construction equipment rather than scaled-down demonstrations. Past event listings described the offerings as including excavators, scissor lifts, and more, giving both cancer patients and survivors a chance to operate the machinery, per upr.org. Earlier editions of the Big Dig priced public admission at $10 per person or $50 for a family six-pack, though current 2026 pricing has not been confirmed.
Proceeds benefit pediatric cancer research and the American Cancer Society. The organization's information page states plainly that the event benefits the American Cancer Society, according to constructionvscancer.org. Ticket purchases through the event's registration platform can also come with automatic enrollment to support the organization, the same site notes.
Why the Fight Matters Locally
The stakes behind the fundraiser are sobering. Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 14, and an estimated 9,620 new cancer cases were expected among U.S. children ages 0 to 14 in 2024. Still, the same source notes a hopeful statistic from the event's own materials: 85% of children with cancer now survive five years or more.
Money raised through past Big Dig events has gone directly toward research close to home. The Lehi Free Press previously reported that the American Cancer Society was funding more than $800,000 in pediatric multiyear research grants at the University of Utah and Primary Children's Hospital, a detail that underscores why the Lehi fundraiser carries weight well beyond a single weekend. The 2024 Big Dig alone raised more than $100,000 for pediatric cancer research, per upr.org's calendar listing.
A Tradition That's Grown Over the Years
The Big Dig has moved and evolved since its earlier years. Back in 2021, the event was held at the Utah State Fairgrounds on a Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m., with tickets priced at $10 per person or $50 for a family pack of six, according to ABC4 Utah's earlier coverage. By 2024, the format had shifted to a midday event that opened to the public from noon to 3 p.m. after reserving the first hour exclusively for pediatric cancer survivors and their families.
Local construction companies have also rallied behind the cause on social media. R&O Construction posted on LinkedIn that it was proud to support the American Cancer Society's Big Dig: Construction vs. Cancer, a small but visible sign of the industry backing that helps power the fundraiser each year.
