Bowl for the Cure Week celebrated at 2023 USBC Women’s Championships
July 01, 2023
Pictured above: Sylvia Smith and her teammates during Bowl for the Cure Week at the 2023 USBC Women's Championships.
LAS VEGAS – The third edition of Bowl for the Cure Week at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships was celebrated from June 19-25 at the South Point Bowling Plaza, giving survivors the chance to compete and be recognized for their battle while raising awareness for all in the fight against breast cancer.
Bowl for the Cure is sponsored by USBC, in partnership with Susan G. Komen®, and serves as a year-round fundraising and breast cancer awareness initiative that helps support research, financial assistance and advocation of patient rights.
The week featured several activation spots around the Bowling Plaza to increase breast cancer awareness, honor survivors and drive donations for the cause. Some of the activities during the week included the Approach of Hope, a raffle and daily giveaways, with all funds donated during the week going to Bowl for the Cure.
The 2023 event raised more than $1,640.
During the week, several survivors also shared their stories going up against breast cancer and how the bowling community has helped them through in one way or another.
Sylvia Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a two-time survivor, and she made her 14th consecutive appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships in 2023. Her first bout with breast cancer came when she was just starting her career as a schoolteacher.
“I was 34 years old when I found a lump, and a biopsy later confirmed that it was cancer,” Smith said. “I had surgery, reconstruction and chemotherapy. It went into remission after all that, but about 11 years later, the other breast was found to have cancer as well.”
She went through a similar process the second time and has remained cancer-free. Her spirit and hopes have stayed high throughout, as she is bowling on the national stage with no plans on stopping soon.
Smith remains a positive force in her community.
“I’ve told my friends and other league teammates that if they ever have a diagnosis like that, they can always lean on me for support,” Smith said.
Joyce Brannick
Joyce Brannick of New Braunfels, Texas, is a recent survivor who was first diagnosed in June 2021.
“I was just coming back from vacation and felt a small lump,” Brannick said. “I didn’t think too much of it – I thought it was just a swollen gland – and I had a mammogram scheduled for the next week anyways. They said a biopsy was necessary, and they confirmed it was invasive cancer.”
Luckily, the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, and she was able to avoid chemotherapy, needing about six weeks of radiation. After her radiation treatment, Brannick had a procedure in February 2022 known as DIEP flap reconstruction, which moved stomach tissue into the affected breast to create a new breast.
“I was amazed at how little pain I had after that reconstruction,” Brannick said. “I only needed some Tylenol, and I was back to bowling in about four weeks after that. I owe it to all the great people at PRMA Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, as well as my support system, who were able to help me out however they could.”
Through regular checkups, Brannick still is cancer-free and also is part of a Facebook group that answers questions and concerns that others going through something similar might have.
“It is a diagnosis that no woman wants to hear, but it’s not as grave as it used to be,” Brannick said. “There is a rainbow at the end of that dark cloud.”
Karin Lawler
Karin Lawler of Lewisville, Texas, making her sixth appearance at the Women’s Championships, knew breast cancer ran in her family, but she was ready to fight when she was diagnosed at the age of 50 in 2013.
“When I was 50 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Lawler said. “It was hormonal based, but thankfully, my surgeon got it all. I went through three months of chemotherapy, followed by three months of radiation. Knock on wood, it’s seven years later, and I am still cancer-free.”
Lawler had her surgery in early 2014, followed by her six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Her final oncology appointment was in 2022.
The support of Lawler’s family and friends helped her through the fight. She looks forward to any Bowl for the Cure event, as she wants to use her voice to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
“One thing about USBC is that they have such a great support staff, and they promote Bowl for the Cure,” Lawler said. “It’s very nice that everybody is helping and donating. All of the support just means everything.”
Veronika “Roni” Pegee
Veronika “Roni” Pegee of Ormond Beach, Florida, has gone through a recent battle with breast cancer after being diagnosed Oct. 1, 2021, with triple-negative breast cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer, with a faster growth rate with an aggressive type of tumor. It predominately affects women of color.
For Pegee, her diagnosis came out from thin air. Her health was in great standing, but her diagnosis started out very aggressive.
“They had started me right away on an aggressive treatment plan, with six months of chemo, followed by surgery and radiation,” Pegee said. “I am healed and am cancer-free.”
The bowling community offered the biggest support to Pegee during her battle. She received an outpouring of love from people within the community from across the nation. It gave her a newfound look on life and people.
While her appearance this week marked her second time bowling at the Women’s Championships, she is beyond thankful for events like Bowl for the Cure Week, and she plans on competing during next year’s event as well.
“Just being among women, strong women of all walks of life,” Pegee said. “Cancer doesn’t care if you are rich, poor, black, white or anything like that. So, just to be here among women doing what we love and just bowling.”
Deborah Clavel
Deborah Clavel of Henderson, Colorado, currently is fighting breast cancer for the fourth time; she was first diagnosed in 2015. That did not stop her from making her seventh appearance at the Women’s Championships.
Her fourth diagnosis happened just five months after her previous chemotherapy stint, and she has since stopped treatment. Unfortunately, her cancer has spread, and doctors are trying to keep her prognosis at bay with medication and targeted chemotherapy.
Through all the hardships and obstacles in her battle, Clavel looks to her family and bowling friends for the support she needs.
“I feel their support from the minute they hug me, and I know they are always there,” Clavel said. “They forgive me for not being able to throw the ball and throw it down the lane. Bowling is the one thing they cannot take away from me. So, whether I bowl well or not, I am trying until I cannot do it anymore. The fact that I made that commitment to myself keeps me going.”
Bowl for the Cure Week means everything to Clavel, as it helps raise awareness and donations to help in any shape or form.
“This means everything,” Clavel said. “This is just great. If we can get the word out and spread awareness, that would mean the world.”
Bowl for the Cure Week will be back for the 2024 Women’s Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, and take place June 17-23. Learn more and register by clicking here.
Since its inception in 2000, more than $13 million has been raised through Bowl for the Cure to help support Susan G. Komen’s mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in the community and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.
LAS VEGAS – The third edition of Bowl for the Cure Week at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships was celebrated from June 19-25 at the South Point Bowling Plaza, giving survivors the chance to compete and be recognized for their battle while raising awareness for all in the fight against breast cancer.
Bowl for the Cure is sponsored by USBC, in partnership with Susan G. Komen®, and serves as a year-round fundraising and breast cancer awareness initiative that helps support research, financial assistance and advocation of patient rights.
The week featured several activation spots around the Bowling Plaza to increase breast cancer awareness, honor survivors and drive donations for the cause. Some of the activities during the week included the Approach of Hope, a raffle and daily giveaways, with all funds donated during the week going to Bowl for the Cure.
The 2023 event raised more than $1,640.
During the week, several survivors also shared their stories going up against breast cancer and how the bowling community has helped them through in one way or another.
Sylvia Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a two-time survivor, and she made her 14th consecutive appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships in 2023. Her first bout with breast cancer came when she was just starting her career as a schoolteacher.
“I was 34 years old when I found a lump, and a biopsy later confirmed that it was cancer,” Smith said. “I had surgery, reconstruction and chemotherapy. It went into remission after all that, but about 11 years later, the other breast was found to have cancer as well.”
She went through a similar process the second time and has remained cancer-free. Her spirit and hopes have stayed high throughout, as she is bowling on the national stage with no plans on stopping soon.
Smith remains a positive force in her community.
“I’ve told my friends and other league teammates that if they ever have a diagnosis like that, they can always lean on me for support,” Smith said.
Joyce Brannick
Joyce Brannick of New Braunfels, Texas, is a recent survivor who was first diagnosed in June 2021.
“I was just coming back from vacation and felt a small lump,” Brannick said. “I didn’t think too much of it – I thought it was just a swollen gland – and I had a mammogram scheduled for the next week anyways. They said a biopsy was necessary, and they confirmed it was invasive cancer.”
Luckily, the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, and she was able to avoid chemotherapy, needing about six weeks of radiation. After her radiation treatment, Brannick had a procedure in February 2022 known as DIEP flap reconstruction, which moved stomach tissue into the affected breast to create a new breast.
“I was amazed at how little pain I had after that reconstruction,” Brannick said. “I only needed some Tylenol, and I was back to bowling in about four weeks after that. I owe it to all the great people at PRMA Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, as well as my support system, who were able to help me out however they could.”
Through regular checkups, Brannick still is cancer-free and also is part of a Facebook group that answers questions and concerns that others going through something similar might have.
“It is a diagnosis that no woman wants to hear, but it’s not as grave as it used to be,” Brannick said. “There is a rainbow at the end of that dark cloud.”
Karin Lawler
Karin Lawler of Lewisville, Texas, making her sixth appearance at the Women’s Championships, knew breast cancer ran in her family, but she was ready to fight when she was diagnosed at the age of 50 in 2013.
“When I was 50 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Lawler said. “It was hormonal based, but thankfully, my surgeon got it all. I went through three months of chemotherapy, followed by three months of radiation. Knock on wood, it’s seven years later, and I am still cancer-free.”
Lawler had her surgery in early 2014, followed by her six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Her final oncology appointment was in 2022.
The support of Lawler’s family and friends helped her through the fight. She looks forward to any Bowl for the Cure event, as she wants to use her voice to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
“One thing about USBC is that they have such a great support staff, and they promote Bowl for the Cure,” Lawler said. “It’s very nice that everybody is helping and donating. All of the support just means everything.”
Veronika “Roni” Pegee
Veronika “Roni” Pegee of Ormond Beach, Florida, has gone through a recent battle with breast cancer after being diagnosed Oct. 1, 2021, with triple-negative breast cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer, with a faster growth rate with an aggressive type of tumor. It predominately affects women of color.
For Pegee, her diagnosis came out from thin air. Her health was in great standing, but her diagnosis started out very aggressive.
“They had started me right away on an aggressive treatment plan, with six months of chemo, followed by surgery and radiation,” Pegee said. “I am healed and am cancer-free.”
The bowling community offered the biggest support to Pegee during her battle. She received an outpouring of love from people within the community from across the nation. It gave her a newfound look on life and people.
While her appearance this week marked her second time bowling at the Women’s Championships, she is beyond thankful for events like Bowl for the Cure Week, and she plans on competing during next year’s event as well.
“Just being among women, strong women of all walks of life,” Pegee said. “Cancer doesn’t care if you are rich, poor, black, white or anything like that. So, just to be here among women doing what we love and just bowling.”
Deborah Clavel
Deborah Clavel of Henderson, Colorado, currently is fighting breast cancer for the fourth time; she was first diagnosed in 2015. That did not stop her from making her seventh appearance at the Women’s Championships.
Her fourth diagnosis happened just five months after her previous chemotherapy stint, and she has since stopped treatment. Unfortunately, her cancer has spread, and doctors are trying to keep her prognosis at bay with medication and targeted chemotherapy.
Through all the hardships and obstacles in her battle, Clavel looks to her family and bowling friends for the support she needs.
“I feel their support from the minute they hug me, and I know they are always there,” Clavel said. “They forgive me for not being able to throw the ball and throw it down the lane. Bowling is the one thing they cannot take away from me. So, whether I bowl well or not, I am trying until I cannot do it anymore. The fact that I made that commitment to myself keeps me going.”
Bowl for the Cure Week means everything to Clavel, as it helps raise awareness and donations to help in any shape or form.
“This means everything,” Clavel said. “This is just great. If we can get the word out and spread awareness, that would mean the world.”
Bowl for the Cure Week will be back for the 2024 Women’s Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, and take place June 17-23. Learn more and register by clicking here.
Since its inception in 2000, more than $13 million has been raised through Bowl for the Cure to help support Susan G. Komen’s mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in the community and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.