Bowlers from around Sumner County will get a chance to strike out against cancer and spare some lives during the first Bowl for a Cure event.
    From 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, May 2 at Meadow Lanes Bowling in Wellington, bowlers can show their support for Relay for Life teams, Team Chemo Cafe and First National Bank by donating $5 to play two games of bowling.
    All money from the event will be split 50/50 between the two teams and will go towards Relay for Life.
    Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s national signature fundraising activity. Teams of eight to 15 members gather with tents and sleeping bags to participate in the largest fundraising walk in the nation. Relay For Life unites friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools and churches — people from all walks of life. Teams seek sponsorship prior to the Relay, all with the goal of supporting a cure for cancer.
    Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors, remember loves ones and raise money for the fight against cancer.
    An idea originally formulated by Ashley Cole and Channity Farley at the Outpatient Clinic at Sumner Regional Medical Center, the Higginbotham family was on board from the start.
    Stormie Higginbotham at First National Bank says her family has been personally touched by cancer and its effects. Bill Day, her father and co-owner of Meadow Lanes lost his mother and sister to the disease.
    Meadow Lanes will be giving 100 percent of the profit that night to the two teams as support for their efforts.
    “This is something they would do for anyone,” said Higginbotham.
    She’s received several phone calls and inquiries about the event and is hoping for a huge turnout.
    “I think it’s going to be a big event,” she said.
    Opportunities to help the two teams at the event will also be available. T-shirts will be on sale for $15 each and information on other fund raising efforts will be available.
    Team Chemo Cafe has been working hard to make their first year of Relay for Life a success and will continue to work hard with wooden roses for Mothers Day and scarves on sale at the clinic, and a special brisket dinner at The United Methodist Church from 5 to 6:30 p.m., April 30.
    “We just felt we should become more active for our patients and families,” said Farley. She says support for Bowl for a Cure has been “phenomenal.”
    “We’ve been hanging flyers up at businesses and have been getting such great support from everybody. It’s just been great,” she said.
    Farley says she’s hoping the Wellington masses will come out in droves to support a good cause — and to have a great time in the process.
    “It’s just going to be so much fun.” she said.