Tony O'Rear Bowl for Life is Sunday

Area keglers will have two opportunities to participate in the 11th annual Tony O'Rear Bowl for Life bowling tournament benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Sunday at Holiday Bowl, 5518 Brainerd Road.

Sessions will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The event has raised more than $125,000 for St. Jude in the last decade, according to organizers.

The event is named in honor of Tony O'Rear, who at 11 years old was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a disease that prevents bone marrow from producing platelets properly. Tony fought the disease, but developed several complications and died at age 12. His family and friends have organized the bowling event to celebrate his life and to honor the work of the doctors and researchers at St. Jude.

"Although Tony's outcome is not what any parent would want for their child, we are convinced that St. Jude's provided the most outstanding treatment and did everything in their power to save Tony," said Barbara Breedwell, Tony's mom.

"Even more impressive was their compassion, not only for Tony, but all the children at St. Jude. It is because of that compassion that we will always love St. Jude and will strive to help them fight the evils of childhood cancer," added Tony's dad, Mike O'Rear.

Teams of four may participate for $150 each. Teams should register in advance. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.

To register, contact Barbara Breedwell at 870-4476 or 637-9358 or Michael O'Rear at 596-9215.

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