Brighton students and their families will benefit from an upcoming tailgate party.

Brighton High School football team will be going to the Big House in Ann Arbor on Thursday to play Belleville in their first game of the season, marking the second year in a row that the Bulldogs have played their opening game at the U of M football stadium. Brighton has been picked to play again at the Big House because they drew such a large contingent of fans last year — about 1,000 - and thus were invited back. Six high school football games are played at the Big House, with the proceeds going to the Chad Tough Foundation.

In order to give the football team a big sendoff, a tailgate party will be held at 4pm Thursday in front of the Brighton High School cafeteria or inside the cafeteria if it rains. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and soft drinks will be provided by C.C. Catering of Brighton and dessert supplied by YoFresh Frozen Yogurt Cafe, located in the Brighton Mall. A live DJ will play music. The $20 price also includes a ticket to the game and bus transportation, provided by the Brighton Area Schools. The buses will depart at 5:45 p.m. for Ann Arbor and the game will start at 7 p.m.

According to Scranton Middle School teacher Keri Harbrecht, seven buses will transport over 300 fans to the game and back to Brighton. In addition, many other families will be providing their own transportation. Proceeds from the tailgate party will go to the “I Will Right Now Foundation” that Harbrecht established last year after the death of her husband, Chris, from cancer. Harbrecht says that in the brief time it has been in existence, the 501(c)3 foundation has raised about $26,000, with the funds used to provide a family trip to Disney World, for respite care and VISA gift cards for alternative forms of medical treatment.

The funds are earmarked solely for Brighton Area Schools parents, families, students, and employees. You'll find a link below for more information on the foundation. For tailgate party tickets email; harbrek@brightonk12.com. (TT)