Mon Aug 13, 2007, 12:19 AM EDT: Athletes with superhuman strength will flip 800 lbs. tractor tires and will take a turns pulling trucks weighing several tons, all to benefit cancer research.

Motivated by a relative's battle with cancer John Sullivan, a strongman competitor, has organized and will compete in Strength Beyond Strength Strongman Challenge, charity event he hopes will draw athletes from across New England.

"My brother-in-law is currently going through chemotherapy right now. I thought this would be a good idea," said Sullivan. "We want to raise as much money as possible for a good cause. The American Cancer Society is thrilled about it. It's a typical fundraiser but it gets people kind of interested."

The Waltham resident and co-owner of Excel Sport & Fitness gym on Bear Hill Road, has teamed up with neighboring business Uno Chicago Grill and North American Strongman Inc, to bring the first strongman competition to Waltham.

"I've been a competitor myself in these competitions since 2002," Sullivan said. "I haven't really run one before until this one."

On Saturday, Aug. 25, athletes will convene in the parking lot of Uno Chicago Grill on Bear Hill Road where five events, designed to test the limits of strength, speed and endurance will play out for a family audience.

"There will be five events. Number one is the truck pull," Sullivan said. "The athlete will be harnessed to a truck. They put it in neutral and they have a rope that they have a pull themselves along. They pull it down a 100-foot course."

Other events include the "log clean and press," where competitors lift an aluminum log weighing between 210 to 250 lbs. over their heads, a "truck axle lift" where athletes use leg muscles to lift a bar weighing between 450 to 600 lbs. and "Conan's wheel," where competitors walk in a clockwise circle pushing a heavy metal rotating arm for as many revolutions as possible.

Athletes will be divided into lightweight and heavyweight categories. Prizes, including the raffling off a pair of Red Sox tickets, will be awarded to the top three winners in each division.

The winners also earn a chance to compete in the North American Strongman Inc. Amateur National Championships, which will be held in Las Vegas on Nov. 16 and 17.

Willie Wessels, president of the North American Strongman Inc., said most strongman competitions have a fundraising component to them. "The 90 plus shows we have a year are usually benefits to cancer research or fundraising," he said.

Wessels also said Sullivan has a chance of winning the North American Strongman Inc. Amateur National Championship this year.

"John is just a an outstanding athlete himself. He'll probably be at the nationals ... I think he has a great chance in winning," Wessels said. "John's been competing with us now for five or six years. ... Hopefully he'll get a really big turnout for his own contest. He'll be the first to do that in Waltham."

The competition begins at noon Saturday, Aug. 25, in the parking lot of Uno Chicago Grill on 155 Bear Hill Road. Admission is free, though donations at the gate are greatly appreciated, according to Sullivan.

For more information call 781-890-0009 or visit www.excelstrength.com.

Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jgilbrid@cnc.com.