Think pink!
That could have been the reaction of any visitor to Westlock Bowl the past two weekends as the bowling alley played host to the Knockdown Cancer fundraiser for the third consecutive year.
Teams bowling on Jan. 24 were sporting all manner of pink, from pink shirts and scarves, all the way to pink hair.
Westlock mayor Ralph Leriger even got into the spirit, having his moustache coloured pink thanks to the female staffers at the Westlock News, said Westlock Bowl’s Carolyn Kohlsmith.
In total, 21 teams comprising over 100 people took part in the two-weekend event to raise money for cancer research.
In order to participate in the event, teams had to raise at least $500.
“Most of the teams took that message to heart and raised a lot more,” Kohlsmith said.
Why each bowler took part in the event was personal, but Kohlsmith said in many cases it came down to them having a connection to cancer.
“Lots of people have been affected by it and wonder how to do something for them,” she said.
The team from Servus Credit Union echoed Kohlsmith’s rationale.
“I’m sure we all know someone who has been affected by cancer,” said MaryLynn Jendrick, who acted as the spokesperson for the team.
This year is the third year Servus has entered a team in the event, with the institution feeling it’s an important cause to be involved in, she said.
“As a business, we like to be out in the community because we’re community oriented,” she added.
This year’s event continued three years of growth, Kohlsmith said. In the event’s first year in 2012, 17 teams participated; there were 18 teams last year.
Not only are businesses participating, however.
Kohlsmith said students at R.F. Staples, Saint Mary and Westlock Elementary have been collecting change for cancer research, while the youth bowlers have been out canvassing for pledges.
The final tally of how much Knockdown Cancer raised will be announced at a wind-up party scheduled for Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
