“I’m both bowled over and tickled pink,” Westlock Bowl owner Carolyn Kohlsmith told an enthusiastic crowd at the Feb. 3 wrap-up party for the second annual Knockdown Cancer fundraiser.
It was a challenge to beat the total from last year’s inaugural event — a total that put the four-lane Westlock Bowl well ahead of the closest runner-up, a 32-lane bowling centre in Calgary.
“Last year we astounded ourselves when we came into the No. 1 spot out of 85 bowling centres,” Kohlsmith said.
After two last-minute donations from deputy mayor Sheila Foley and Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec on the day of the wrap-up party, Westlock Bowl’s fundraising total for this year is $25,050.
“To the bowlers so diligently collecting pledges, thank you for your hard work,” she said.
Individual pledges from 28 bowlers made up the majority of the money raised, with the top three individuals collectively posting a total $4,565.
Westlock Bowl also hosted a business bowl challenge which saw 18 local businesses participate to raise about $7,000.
Furthermore, some local schools got involved by collecting spare change, which quickly added up to a formidable $1,631.
Kubinec said she was more than impressed with the fundraising total, and the community spirit it represents.
“I want to tell you how honoured and humbled I am to represent you at the Legislature,” she said.
“This is a wonderful community. You see a good cause and you go out and work for it.”
Foley also offered congratulations, noting that she and the rest of council are “very supportive” of this fundraising project.
The initial intent behind Knockdown Cancer, organized by Bowl Canada, was for bowling centres across the country to donate a portion of the money from shoe rentals to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Kohlsmith said last year that since Westlock’s four-lane bowling alley doesn’t do much in the way of rentals, they thought they could take the fundraiser a step further and collect pledges.
Their five-figure success last year put them on the map as the highest fundraisers in all of Canada, and Westlock Bowl was prominently featured in an issue of Canada Bowl’s newsletter.
“Our community has definitely taken more than a few steps for this fundraising event,” Kohlsmith said.
