Fabulous Four visit Komen, train at ITRC
April 08, 2015
Fabulous Four winners at ITRC: Tavawyaha Batts, Chelsea Gilliam, Angel Crosby and Anne Taku
ARLINGTON, Texas – The winners in the Bowl for the Cure® Fabulous Four essay contest were at the International Bowling Campus on Wednesday and had the opportunity to train with the Team USA staff as part of their ultimate bowling experience.
The Fabulous Four essay contest was conducted by Bowl for the Cure, the year-round fundraising initiative sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress in partnership with Susan G. Komen®, to raise awareness about breast cancer. The contest was open to women who have been impacted by breast cancer and/or have been involved in supporting the fight against breast cancer.
Tavawyaha Batts of Waldorf, Maryland, Angel Crosby of Garrett, Indiana, Chelsea Gilliam of Barbourville, Kentucky, and Anne Taku of Santa Cruz, California, are midway through a five-day trip that will culminate at the 2015 USBC Women’s Championships.
The group’s journey started with a tour of Komen headquarters and having a special celebration dinner. On Wednesday, they were at the IBC where they had the chance to tour the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame before taking to the lanes at the International Training and Research Center.
Batts said going to the ITRC was something she really wanted to do after she missed the opportunity to make a trip to the facility with a group from Maryland.
“I wasn’t able to make (that trip) so when I knew this was part of the trip I was so excited,” Batts said. “I’m not a high-average bowler but I’m always looking to improve.”
Gilliam is a lifelong bowler who competed in high school and college, and currently coaches the men’s and women’s teams at Union College. While she’s excited for the bowling part of the trip, she appreciated the opportunity to get a peek inside Komen’s headquarters.
“It’s been amazing because you see all the pink-ribbon stuff and it was awesome to get to walk through there and meet some of them and see what they do,” Gilliam said.
Taku is a relative newcomer to the sport, having started about four years ago but says it has become a passion for her. She admitted to being a little nervous about working with the Team USA coaching staff but she wants to get better.
“I’m working on my game, I want to be a student of the game,” Taku said. “I study all the BOWL.com YouTube videos. I just want to increase my capacity because I so enjoy the game.”
Crosby, who has coached middle school and high school bowlers, said her family are all bowlers, including her husband and kids. Like the other three winners, she is excited to share the journey with a group that has become fast friends.
“It was almost like we have known each other our whole lives,” Crosby said. “It’s kind of the sisterhood you create by being survivors.”
The group’s next stop will be Reno, Nevada, and Friday’s opening squad of the 2015 Women’s Championships, where the Fabulous Four will be honored before competing in the event.
Go to BOWL.com/FabulousFour to learn more about the winners, including their stories.
About Susan G. Komen®
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded more than $847 million in research and provided $1.8 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The winners in the Bowl for the Cure® Fabulous Four essay contest were at the International Bowling Campus on Wednesday and had the opportunity to train with the Team USA staff as part of their ultimate bowling experience.
The Fabulous Four essay contest was conducted by Bowl for the Cure, the year-round fundraising initiative sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress in partnership with Susan G. Komen®, to raise awareness about breast cancer. The contest was open to women who have been impacted by breast cancer and/or have been involved in supporting the fight against breast cancer.
Tavawyaha Batts of Waldorf, Maryland, Angel Crosby of Garrett, Indiana, Chelsea Gilliam of Barbourville, Kentucky, and Anne Taku of Santa Cruz, California, are midway through a five-day trip that will culminate at the 2015 USBC Women’s Championships.
The group’s journey started with a tour of Komen headquarters and having a special celebration dinner. On Wednesday, they were at the IBC where they had the chance to tour the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame before taking to the lanes at the International Training and Research Center.
Batts said going to the ITRC was something she really wanted to do after she missed the opportunity to make a trip to the facility with a group from Maryland.
“I wasn’t able to make (that trip) so when I knew this was part of the trip I was so excited,” Batts said. “I’m not a high-average bowler but I’m always looking to improve.”
Gilliam is a lifelong bowler who competed in high school and college, and currently coaches the men’s and women’s teams at Union College. While she’s excited for the bowling part of the trip, she appreciated the opportunity to get a peek inside Komen’s headquarters.
“It’s been amazing because you see all the pink-ribbon stuff and it was awesome to get to walk through there and meet some of them and see what they do,” Gilliam said.
Taku is a relative newcomer to the sport, having started about four years ago but says it has become a passion for her. She admitted to being a little nervous about working with the Team USA coaching staff but she wants to get better.
“I’m working on my game, I want to be a student of the game,” Taku said. “I study all the BOWL.com YouTube videos. I just want to increase my capacity because I so enjoy the game.”
Crosby, who has coached middle school and high school bowlers, said her family are all bowlers, including her husband and kids. Like the other three winners, she is excited to share the journey with a group that has become fast friends.
“It was almost like we have known each other our whole lives,” Crosby said. “It’s kind of the sisterhood you create by being survivors.”
The group’s next stop will be Reno, Nevada, and Friday’s opening squad of the 2015 Women’s Championships, where the Fabulous Four will be honored before competing in the event.
Go to BOWL.com/FabulousFour to learn more about the winners, including their stories.
About Susan G. Komen®
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded more than $847 million in research and provided $1.8 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.