It began more than a decade ago and continues to create fun and raise funds.
We’re talking about Bowling for Bucks, the annual event at Chatham’s Bowlerama, where participants and sponsors helped raise $33,000.
The money will be distributed to Outreach for Hunger, Community Living Chatham-Kent and R.O.C.K. Missions.
The event is organized by The Bowling Stones, comprised of Jeff Burrows, Bruce Cockburn, Paul Laprise and Brenda LeClair. The quartet came together a dozen years ago and have been fundraising together ever since.
This time around, they raised $33,000, which will be split three ways to the supported charities.
“We’re proud of the fact that all of the money stays local. We’re proud of the fact that each of the charities helps and participates. Everyone has such a great time,” Burrows said.
He added the participants make it such a fun event.
“We’re addicted to the fact that people still love to come. They know they have an annual date of bowling. It’s their annual get out, have fun, be goofy, no judgment, raise a lot of money event,” Burrows said.
Laprise said that all the money not only stays local, but is divided equally.
“When you write us a cheque for $300, we have three beneficiaries. We distribute $100 to all three. Our expenses are covered by another entity,” he said. “The money we get from the public, every dollar goes to the beneficiaries. Just take that number and divide it by three.”
LeClair, executive director of Outreach for Hunger, said the event, and the resulting support received, would not be possible without the giving spirit in Chatham-Kent.
“Thanks to the community for coming out and supporting this; being a part of it, and getting out there for some fun and bowling for charity,” she said.
Burrows, whose side gig is as a professional drummer in bands such as The Tea Party and Crash Karma, became involved when he was still the afternoon DJ at a regional FM rock station. That gig brought the Windsor native to Chatham-Kent numerous times to help fundraise. It’s how he became friends with the other three.
Burrows said the foursome seems to make each individual stronger.
“The amount of collaboration we have between us – everyone has their strong suits – it works out very well,” he said. “When we decided to do this, it just came together.”
