Participants ‘Bowl Over Cancer’ at Chippewa Lanes, raise at least $1,300

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Knocking down pins to set up hope — that was the focus of several bowlers Sunday at Chippewa Lanes.

The bowling alley at 1200 S. Mission St. opened up most of its lanes to Bowl Over Cancer Sunday afternoon, an event run by Community Cancer Services in Isabella County.

Teams of two would pay a $35 entry fee to compete for a grand prize of $65, with a second prize of $50 and a third prize of $40. Vanda Barker, service coordinator for Community Cancer Services, organized the event. Sixty participants, divided into 30 teams, raised between $1,300 and $1,500, she said.

“It was very well-attended,” Barker said. “Everyone was very generous in buying tickets.”

Assisting Barker was her granddaughter Kirsten Detwiler, an 18-year-old high school senior from Beal City.

“Our job is to sell raffle tickets,” Detwiler said. “There’s two drawings: the first drawing they get to chose between the quilt and a picture. The other drawing is whatever prizes are left over. I’m here to help out my grandma and to make it less stressful for her.”

The number of pots to be won were determined by the total money collected. Half of the money collected were placed in the pots, while the other half were set aside to benefit Community Cancer Services.

Tickets were drawn and the bowler had to bowl what is asked of them, such as a strike or a split. The first bowler to do so won the pot.

“We were able to take in a lot of money from the various festivities besides bowling, from the raffles and drawing,” Barker said.

The money raised by Bowl Over Cancer makes a critical difference in how many cancer patients are provided with financial aid, said Harold Cook, president of Community Cancer Services.

He said the bowling event alone typically raises about $2,000 each year. Community Cancer Services will spend anywhere between $35,000 and $55,000 a year.

“It provides $600 a quarter to a cancer patient, and we assist about 40 clients a year,” Cook said. “So this may provide a year of financial difference to one person.”