Roof Sit Bowl-a-thon a BIG success

Community Healing Centers hosted the 2nd Annual Roof Sit Bowl-a-thon at Airway Lanes on March 21. As part of the Roof Sit Bowl-a-thon, the Kalamazoo Bowling Proprietors completed a week-long Roof Sit Sweeper Tournament with a roll-off tournament including 36 bowlers from Airway Lanes, Continental Lanes, Richland Lanes, Eastland Bowl Lanes, and Plainwell Lanes.

The five top bowlers from the Roll-off Tournament are pictured presenting The Community Healing Centers with a check on behalf of over 1,600 bowlers who participated in the Sweeper Tournament. The Kalamazoo Metro Bowling Association and the Kalamazoo Area Women's Bowling Association raised $3,247 which will be used to support programs that treat and prevent child abuse and neglect at The Community Healing Centers. The top five finishers are as follows: First Place - Chris Dechnik, Second Place - Greg Smurr, Third Place - Trudy Williams, Fourth Place - Jim Dechnik, and Fifth Place - Dick Durian.

Tournament Director, Terry Brockelbank, says "This event was an opportunity for our area league bowlers to participate and support programs that treat and prevent child abuse at the Community Healing Centers. The sweeper tournament was our way to give back to the community and support children who need our help and our attention. We were all happy to be able to help "strike out child abuse"."

Just a lane or two down from the Roll-off Tournament, community bowlers were laughing and cheering each other on as they joined together to also raise money to support programs that treat and prevent child abuse. The eight combined community teams raised just over $3,250 thanks to the support of community people that pledged their support. The day was filled with fun, with many door prizes that had been donated by local businesses and individuals.

Mandy Miller, a supporter of Roof Sit and dedicated volunteer says "The Roof Sit Bowl-a-thon is a great way for families and children to come together to raise money to strike-out child abuse. I know firsthand the affects of child abuse and I will do everything in my power to strike it out. Bowling is simply a fun way to throw the first strike."

All combined, the Roof Sit Bowl-a-Thon and Sweeper Tournament raised $6,497 and the money is still coming in. Anyone who would like to donate can call 269-343-1651 (ext. 154) or go to RoofSit.com and donate on-line. The bowl-a-thon was just the first of many events to take place in preparation for Roof Sit 2009, June 25-27 at Southland Mall.