Bowl for Jason’s Friends 25th Anniversary Celebration

For Wyoming children battling cancer and the families who stand by their side, one special day at a bowling alley will have a tremendous impact.

Saturday, March 4 marks the 25th Annual Bowl for Jason’s Friends fundraiser. With just a few weeks left before the big event, Jason’s Friends Foundation urges members of the community to gather their friends, family, coworkers, church members and civic groups to collect donations and come out in support of their fellow Wyomingites.

Each team of five will bowl for about an hour, and individual bowlers are asked to collect at least $100 in donations to meet fundraising goals. Funds raised at the event will provide financial assistance for families in the community and throughout Wyoming whose children are suffering from life-threatening childhood cancers and brain or spinal cord tumors.

Jason’s Friends is excited to announce plans to make the 25th Annual Bowl for Jason’s Friends in Casper an even bigger celebration. The top three individuals from each session who collect the highest amount of donations will be invited back to El Mark-O Lanes for the “Final Bowl Down.” The Final Bowl Down will take place at 9 p.m., followed by the After Party with live music from local musician Bret Andrew. The silent auction will remain open until 10 p.m.

The Final Bowl Down is designed for any age and skill level. Friends, family, teammates and community supporters are invited to come cheer on the Final Bowl Down participants. In honor of the foundation’s 25th anniversary, there will be $2,500 in cash prizes for the winners. Anyone who attends the After Party has a chance to win money as well. Jason’s Friends hopes to have a large turnout for this 25th anniversary celebration. The Bowl Down and After Party are sponsored by Blueprint Energy Partners and Bionic Energy.

“The day is filled with contests, giveaways, free food and drinks, prizes and fun,” said Lisa Eades, volunteer president and cofounder of Jason’s Friends Foundation. “Free T-shirts will be awarded to each bowler gathering $100 or more in donations, with special adult and youth prize packages for the most donations collected.”

Teams sign up for a bowling time online at jasonsfriends.org/bowl or by calling 235-3421. Pick up a team packet at El Mark-O Lanes or at the Jason’s Friends Foundation office at 340 West B St., or print online at jasonsfriends.org/bowl.

“Bowlers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate, including league bowlers, novices and everyone in between,” said Eades. “Last year, almost 1,000 bowlers participated in the event. This year, we are looking for strong support from the community and state to make this another successful fundraiser.”

Jason’s Friends Foundation is a nonprofit organization that steps in to offer a helping hand when a Wyoming child is diagnosed with cancer or a brain or spinal cord tumor. By providing financial assistance for things like travel expenses (fuel, lodging, airfare, meals) and everyday living expenses (house and rent payments, car payments, phone bills, utility bills etc.), Jason’s Friends Foundation eases the financial burden on Wyoming families so that they can focus on what is most important — their children.

Bowl for Jason’s Friends is the organization’s primary fundraiser for the year. The foundation is currently helping nearly 155 Wyoming families and has provided over $7 million of financial assistance since its founding. Last year, the Bowl for Jason’s Friends fundraiser raised more than $360,000 and this year, the foundation hopes to surpass that number as financial needs continue to increase.

New this year, Jason’s Friends will be hosting a smaller version of Bowl for Jason’s Friends in Gillette on Saturday, March 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Camelanes Bowling Center. For more information and to register a team to bowl in Casper or Gillette, please visit jasonsfriends.org/bowl or call 235-3421.