Photo courtesy of Cassi Weiss Marshall boys hockey head coach Michael Weiss (left) and girls hockey head coach Cassi Weiss (right) pose for a photo before a game earlier this year.

MARSHALL — This summer, community members and hockey lovers alike have been coming together to support a Marshall coach who’s undergoing cancer treatment. And today, they’re inviting people to take part in a unique benefit event.

The “Moustaches for Michael Workout” is going on today at Independence park from 10-11 a.m., to benefit Marshall boys hockey coach Michael Weiss. Community members can put on novelty fake mustaches and take part in a workout session led by coaches from Restored Strength in Marshall. Proceeds from the event will help Weiss in his fight against cancer, organizers said.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to give back to someone who has welcomed us with open arms,” said William Sturgeon, of Restored Strength.

Michael Weiss is the head Marshall boys hockey coach, and his wife Cassi is the head girls hockey coach. In June, Michael was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and he’s now undergoing chemotherapy, Cassi Weiss said.

Marshall community members have been a big source of support for the Weisses this summer, Cassi said. The area hockey community has been rallying around Michael too. They sold shirts with the slogan “#miracleonweiss,” a reference to the “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey game. And earlier this month, Marshall hockey players gathered with banners to welcome Michael home after he reached the halfway point of chemo.

“Living in Marshall, it never feels like we don’t have family around,” she said.

Sturgeon and Saara Raappana, of Restoring Strength, approached the Weisses about holding a benefit for Michael as well.

“We’ve been working with the Marshall High School hockey team for almost the last four years,” and Cassi had worked at Restored Strength too, Sturgeon said. They wanted to give something back to the Weisses, he said.

Sturgeon said the “Moustaches for Michael” theme came about as kind of an inside joke. “Michael has had a few mustaches in the time I’ve known him,” Sturgeon said. It would be something fun to add to the workout session.

Sturgeon said the hour-long workout will take place at Independence Park, where people will have space to spread out for social distancing. Fake mustaches will be provided for people to wear, and a freewill donation for Michael Weiss will be accepted.

“It’s going to be a very welcoming workout for anyone, at any level,” Sturgeon said.

Cassi Weiss said Michael has had to be careful about being around people this summer, because chemotherapy can affect the immune system. But she said they do plan to stop by the workout session today, and thank people for coming.

“We appreciate it so much,” she said.