On Feb. 8, 2025, Ventura Calif.’s local bowling alley, Buena Lanes, welcomed a capacity filling crowd for the 17-year-old annual cancer treatment fundraiser: Bowl To Strike Out Cancer, dedicated to supporting local services and research for a cure. The event, after 14 years of being privately run by the Men and Womens’ Bowling Club of Ventura, began collaboration with the Ventura Downtown Lions Club where it now donates the proceeds of silent auctions, raffles, bowling fees and sales to the Ventura Ronald McDonald Family Room (VRMFR), the Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara Cancer Support Community (CSCVVSB) and the City of Hope. This year boasted the most supporters in the fundraiser’s history, bringing in over 200 people to help cancer survivors, and those currently fighting, to find the community and help they need.
From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Buena Lanes was taken over by this crowd, and a moment rarely went by without hearing the excitement from a superb strike, the calling of a raffle ticket ringing out or seeing people engage in the stations representing the variety of charities. One such charity present was the VRMFR, represented by the programs director, Jacquelyn Syndergaard. “I think it is very important to get involved in your community … [and bowling] is definitely a fun way to,” Syndergaard said, addressing the unique quality of this fundraiser. Also present, was the Vice President of the Ventura County United States Bowling Congress (VCUSBC), Allen Schaeffer who said “[there’s] all this noise and all these people, but, I mean, that’s the point of it, … to get as many people as possible out here to donate money and buy things for the cause.”
There to witness it all, were five of the original founders, who saw the fundraiser go from a day where members got cheaper access to bowling, and the proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen organization, to what it is today. This year’s entry cost $35, as barbeque and drinks were offered, raffle ticket rewards ranged from stuffed animals to 48 hour access to a Tesla Cybertruck and, of course, there was the opportunity to bowl with family and friends. Despite the crowded room, blasting music and the chance to get a few strikes, the heart of what has made this local event so special, even if the charities have changed, has stayed true to its roots for nearly two decades: it is for the sake of those who have suffered with cancer.
The impact cancer has on every walk of life, and the impact a local event like this can have, can only be truly shown through the voices and stories of those that have suffered through it, which many of the attendees to this event had. Randall Brooks, a worker at Buena Lanes and avid bowler said “My mom passed, my sister passed, my aunt passed because of cancer. It’s hard to watch them battle … [but] the treatment is getting better and that’s what this is for.” To Brooks, events like this are “nice because I’ve been a bowler my whole life and it’s good to see those things interact. Every fundraiser is a great thing … and, y’know, I love to bowl.”
Schaeffer similarly added “My mom died of cancer, i’ve had skin cancer and a close friend of mine just died of cancer … I mean it doesn’t escape anybody. I’m drawn to the idea of donating money to the cause [and] I think bowling is a great sport for this kind of thing. Everybody can do it … Everybody should.”
Arli Alexander also attended the fundraiser and has been helping the cancer support community in Ventura and Los Angeles (L.A.) County for four years through charitable donations and attending pride walks. At these events she “supports the cancer conquerors who are my neighbors.” Alexander not only attended Bowl To Strike Out Cancer but brought along 15 others because, in her words, “we need as many people to come together to strike out cancer … support people who need help, mentally and physically and to educate our loved ones.” Part of why Alexander engages in so many selfless acts is that she has suffered from tumors that while “not cancerous … [meant] I can’t have children,” which showed her that “[cancer] can affect everyone. When someone has cancer, it affects everyone in their circle of life … All [we can do] is to be mindful and make the right choices for yourself.”
Thanks to events like this, local services for people who have or had experienced cancer are supported and the search for a cure can continue. Along with this, those who have suffered, or known people that have, get the opportunity to come together and share their experiences, helping people see that everyone has a story just as important as anyone else’s, no matter how small or local the community. As Syndergaard put it, “a sense of community [is created] and people feel really supported to show up with other cancer survivors or people going through the same things as them … This provides an area for people to all be together and commune.” These services can be supported through the websites of the VRMFR, the CSCVVSB and the City of Hope.
