Henderson County Bowling Tournament Raises $12,000 for Childhood Cancer

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

1 3 minutes read

Barbara Ritchey
| Special to the Times-News

On May 23, St. Baldrick's of Western North Carolina, led by Barbara Ritchey, hosted its eighth annual Strikeout Childhood Cancer bowling tournament at Tarheel Lanes. To say it was an out of this world evening is an understatement. Past bowling tournaments have raised an average of $5,000 each over the past seven years; this year, the event raised more than $12,000, more than double the average amount raised over the last seven years.

The following organizations participated: Henderson County Sheriff's Office (three teams); Pest Control Pisgah, Meredith Baldridge State Farm; Papa LEW, Transylvania County Sheriff's Office; Water Oak Dental Group; New CEE; Charlie Tire Center; Headwaters Outfitters; Alex Ritchey; Hunter Automotive Group; Ecusta Brewery; Brevard Rotary; McNeely Tool and Rental, BluAxis Realty; Team Holmes; the Cobb family.

Bowlers present all eight years: Charlie's Tires, New PECO, Transylvania County Sheriff's Office and Water Oak Dental Group.

The Tarheel Lanes staff served pizza, drinks and salad to a hungry and fun crowd, and they're already planning for next year. The teams wore special T-shirts and competed for the Team Spirit Award plaque made and donated by Hanes Hoffman. DJ Sandy McCosh “the Sandman” and his wife Alison served up jams, tunes and microphones for announcements and karaoke; Chandelle Ropp took more photos than her camera's memory card could hold.

People sang, danced and showed real spirit. Four honored families attended the event, and stories and photos of seven honored children were featured around the bowling alley:

Gage Guffey (2014, 9 years old, brain tumor), great-grandson of Roger and Suzy Guffey;

Olivia Martin (survivor, now 12, eye tumor), daughter of Noel and Tiffany Martin of Flat Rock;

Ritchey's daughter, Rebecca Morrow, celebrates 25 years of chemotherapy;

Liam McNeely (survivor, 20, acute myeloid leukemia), who, after playing with us in 2022, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He also gave his testimony of faith and spoke about his status as a survivor;

Bethany Cobb (2014, 11 years old, metastatic melanoma), daughter of Steve and Kelly Cobb;

Jax Warren, (2021, 4 years old, spinal cord tumor) son of Lieutenant Jordan and Bailee Warren;

Holmes Desmelik (survivor, 15 years old, inoperable brain tumor), son of Clare and Dave Desmelik.

The congregation sang Happy Birthday to Bethany Cobb, who would have turned 22 on May 23. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Awards and trophies:

Highest team average: Transylvania County Sheriff's Office (400).
Newly Knighted Squires of the Legendary League of Heroes: Ursula Wynn, Alexandria Wynn, Portia Jackson, Arianne Young, Theresa Wynn (all from Papa LEW), Meredith Baldridge, Tanya McCoy.
Organization with the most teams: Henderson County Sheriff's Office.
Best Fundraiser Medal: Jessica Whitmire and Headwaters Outfitters Taproom – she raised $773 in her first year sponsoring a bowling team.
Best team for raising the most money: bluAxis Realty, also in its first year.
Team Spirit Award: HCSO's Above Average Joes, led by Scott Galloway.
Second place bowling trophy goes to Papa LEW
First Place Bowling Trophy: The Incredibowls led by Stephanie Cantwell (HCSO).

Sponsors this year: HCSO/SRO, French Broad River Cattle Company; Papa LEW, Charlie's Tire Center, Ecusta Brewing, New PECO; McNeely Tool and Rental Companies; Pisgah Pest Control; Hunter Automotive Group; BluAxis Realty; Anita Pace Southern Roots Realty; Meredith Baldridge State Farm; Dental water oak; The Hub and Pisgah Tavern; and PRP Wine International. Raffle Prize Donors: 12bones BBQ, Bark Box, Blue Ridge Bakery, Bobbee O's BBQ, Carowinds, Chipotle, Cognitive Brewhouse, Connestee Golf, Cummings Cove Golf Course, DD Bullwinkels, Delle Elaine Photography, DJ Sandman, Earthshine Lodge, Fit Inn , Grammy's, Green Go Cleaning, Greystone Inn, K-1 Speed, Kilwin's Brevard, Let's Roam, Nantahala Outdoor Center, OP Taylors, Starbucks, Sycamore Cycles, Texas Roadhouse, Tidal Wave, Trader Joe's and Walmart of Pisgah Forest.

Ritchey is already planning for next year to be even bigger and is looking for volunteers and participants for 2025. She can be reached at [email protected] or (803) 464-1951.

Lina Portman

Related Articles

Dangerous Notre Dame football weapon identified as star of 2024

Large commercial fire breaks out in Pittsburgh

Father of teen killed in June 2023 Boone County shooting frustrated by lack of movement just in case

Man convicted of hate crime against San Diego police officer