Although Westlock Bowl’s general focus is knocking down pins, the centre will direct efforts towards knocking down cancer for the month of January.
The bowling centre is taking part in the first annual Knockdown Cancer event held across the country to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. More than 80 bowling centres will donate $0.25 from every shoe rental to the cause, but Westlock Bowl has decided to go above and beyond.
“Most of our bowlers are league players who own their own bowling shoes so there’s not going to be a lot of funds generated from shoe rentals — there never is here,” said owner Carolyn Kohlsmith. “We thought we could do a little bit more.”
From Thursday, Jan 5 to Saturday, Jan. 7, the centre will pin a variety of teams against one another in the name of cancer research.
“A lot of people say, ‘Well, I don’t know how to bowl,’” she said. “Anyone can bowl and it doesn’t matter if they’re any good at it — the whole focus of this is to raise money for cancer.”
Any five people can sign up to take part in the event, whether they are friends, family or coworkers and she said she hopes to see some people dedicate their team to someone they know who has fought or is fighting cancer, as a sign of support.
Kohlsmith said she hopes to see 24 teams of five sign up for the event, which would raise a minimum of $6,000 since each team in required to raise at least $300 to participate.
“That’s only $60 per person, so that’s not hard,” she said, adding that her mother who lives at the Pembina Lodge was able to raise $95 in her first day pledging other residents.
Along with the kick-off weekend, the centre will be collecting donations throughout the month, with all proceeds going directly to the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Everybody has somebody in their family or has a friend they’ve lost to it or has the disease right now that’s fighting it and it’s just a way of showing support and raising money,” Kohlsmith said. “I just hope that everybody embraces this opportunity to raise money for cancer.”
Local schools and a handful of local business have also signed on to collect donations for the Canadian Cancer Society for the month of January.
To sign up for the event or to learn more, contact Kohlsmith in the evenings at the bowling centre at 780-349-3447.
