FUNDRAISER
THE 11th ANNUAL Tony O’Rear Bowl for Life Bowling tournament will be Feb. 13 at Holiday Bowl on Brainerd Road. The event raises money for Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
There will be bowling sessions at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
During the past 10 years, more than $125,000 has been raised at the event, said Tony O’Rear’s father, Mike O’Rear.
When Tony was 11 years old, he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a disease that prevents bone marrow from producing platelets properly, Mr. O’Rear said. “Despite vigorous treatments, including a bone marrow transplant, Tony developed several complications and, sadly, passed away at the age of 12.”
Since then, Tony’s family and friends have organized the bowling event to celebrate his life as well raise money for the hospital.
“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 its power to save Tony,” said Barbara Breedwell, Tony’s mother.
“Even more impressive was their compassion, not only for Tony, but for all the children at St. Jude,” O’Rear said. “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.”
For more information about the event, call Breedwell at 870-4476 or O’Rear at 596-9215.
REUNION
THE SODDY-DAISY High School Class of 1940 met recently to celebrate its 70th high school reunion.
Six members of the class met at Karl’s Restaurant in Hixson.
“Quite a record,” said class member Ted Mills of the group’s decades of celebrating.
Classmates attending the event were Willard Grant, Earl Lee Frazier, Almeda Frazier, Martha Foster, Charles Uren and Mills.
HEARD ON THE TOWN
IF YOU’RE on a budget but want to send flowers to your Valentine on Feb. 14, First Things First has an offer you may not want to refuse.
Flower Fest, an annual fundraiser for the organization, offers arrangements ranging from five tulips in a vase for $15 to the “Spectacular Romance Your Mate Package” that includes a deluxe tulip arrangement in a vase, a “date night” DVD, chocolate, Old Mill Kettle Corn, sparkling cider, champagne flutes and candle for $45.
The deadline to place orders is Feb. 11.
To place your order, call Alishea Hixson at First Things First at 267-5383.
Ear to the GROUND
THROUGHOUT February, Belk is partnering with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health in support of The Heart Truth and women’s heart health education and research, said Lorena Cavanaugh, Belk special events coordinator.
Feb. 5 and Feb. 22, Belk at Hamilton Place will host representatives from Memorial Hospital, Blood Assurance, Bodyline Studio and others to talk about ways to protect your heart and your health, Cavanaugh said.
The campaign is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Office on Women’s Health and other groups committed to the health and well being of women, she said.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill.