Illinois group bowls for a cause, competes at 2018 USBC Open Championships
March 28, 2018
By Matt Cannizzaro and Fran Piraino
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Three teams from the Chicago area bowled for a cause this year at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The group ordered matching black and pink Bowl for the Cure jerseys to honor loved ones affected by cancer.
Jim Simkins of Park Ridge, Illinois, came up with the idea after his wife, Vicki, recently was diagnosed.
"I said, 'let's do some fundraising and get shirts for this year,'" Simkins said. "Most of us have been directly affected by cancer."
Bowl for the Cure is a year-round fundraising and breast cancer awareness initiative sponsored by USBC in partnership with Susan G. Komen. The effort helps support research, education, treatment assistance and other community programs.
In addition to wearing their Bowl for the Cure jerseys on the lanes at the Oncenter Convention Center, the teams marched out prior to their team event Sunday with two Bowl for the Cure flags.
Group organizer, Wayne Sherman, who made his 37th consecutive Open Championships appearance this week, is a cancer survivor.
He said the idea to compete with Bowl for the Cure jerseys and raise money was important to his bowlers.
"This is personal for a lot of us," Sherman said. "We've been coming here for a long time, and we wanted to help the USBC and give back."
The three-team contingent raised and donated approximately $750 for the cause.
They also had a memorable time together on and off the lanes in Syracuse with their renewed views on life and bowling.
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Three teams from the Chicago area bowled for a cause this year at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The group ordered matching black and pink Bowl for the Cure jerseys to honor loved ones affected by cancer.
Jim Simkins of Park Ridge, Illinois, came up with the idea after his wife, Vicki, recently was diagnosed.
"I said, 'let's do some fundraising and get shirts for this year,'" Simkins said. "Most of us have been directly affected by cancer."
Bowl for the Cure is a year-round fundraising and breast cancer awareness initiative sponsored by USBC in partnership with Susan G. Komen. The effort helps support research, education, treatment assistance and other community programs.
In addition to wearing their Bowl for the Cure jerseys on the lanes at the Oncenter Convention Center, the teams marched out prior to their team event Sunday with two Bowl for the Cure flags.
Group organizer, Wayne Sherman, who made his 37th consecutive Open Championships appearance this week, is a cancer survivor.
He said the idea to compete with Bowl for the Cure jerseys and raise money was important to his bowlers.
"This is personal for a lot of us," Sherman said. "We've been coming here for a long time, and we wanted to help the USBC and give back."
The three-team contingent raised and donated approximately $750 for the cause.
They also had a memorable time together on and off the lanes in Syracuse with their renewed views on life and bowling.