Bowling to honor a son — and “strike out” melanoma
“Our tagline is ‘Strike Out Cancer, Spare A Life’,” said BOWL-A-NOMA co-founder Richard Hull. Each May, the bowling event and party, created in honor of his late son, Elliott, unites a dedicated community to raise funding and awareness for melanoma research, including at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
“Today happens to be Elliott's — what would have been Elliott's 40th birthday,” said Richard, on a call from his home in Seattle, Washington, in early April.Elliott passed away in 2018 at the age of 35, four months after being diagnosed with an aggressive type of skin cancer. He left behind a wife, a two-year-old son and a dedicated community of friends and family.
“By the time he was actually diagnosed, there was little to nothing [his doctors] could do other than try,” said Richard. “So, they tried, and they were not successful. And his ‘You've got six months to live’ turned into four....I had had a conversation with Elliott prior to his passing. And I just felt that in order to preserve my soul, I needed to do something to divert the loss into gain. I came up with BOWL-A-NOMA, a contraction of Bowling and Melanoma.”
Transforming loss into action
Motivated by a mission to honor Elliott’s life, support research into the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and help others facing the disease, Richard, his wife Louise, and Elliott’s sister Amelia quickly ramped up their efforts. They gathered their community, created a website and registered as a nonprofit. On May 19, 2019, a day officially proclaimed “BOWL-A-NOMA Day” by then Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, they invited friends and family to hit the lanes in Seattle for their first annual fundraiser. BOWL-A-NOMA took flight.
Now in its third year (with a pandemic pause in 2020 and 2021) the event will welcome participants from as far away as Pasadena, CA and Girdwood, AK to get involved on Saturday, May 20, at West Seattle Bowl, and make a difference for melanoma research. “Spectators [who would like] to be part of the event with their donations are also welcome to attend,” said Richard.
“It’s always the third Saturday in May,” he adds. “We chose May because it is National Skin Cancer Awareness month.”
Able and willing
BOWL-A-NOMA is a true community effort, said Richard. From volunteers and donors to web designers and musicians, the event relies on the heart of many people. He even enlisted the help of a “very dear” college friend, who designed BOWL-A-NOMA’s signature logo. “In order to maximize all donations from our community of supporters, we do not pay those interested in our cause to come in and do A, B, or C,” he said. “It’s all volunteer work.”
With that support, Richard and his family were able to make their first philanthropic grant in 2022: a generous donation of $50,000 to the laboratory of Kevin Barry, PhD, a researcher and assistant professor at Fred Hutch. Dr. Barry’s team is exploring new ways to harness the immune system to attack melanomas and protect patients.
“We chose Fred Hutch because they are the most notable cancer research center in the northwest, and perhaps in the nation,” said Richard.
Last year, the Hull family visited Fred Hutch’s Seattle campus to tour the Barry Lab and talk with the team. “I think it might have been Louise that asked [Dr. Barry], Why do you do this work?” said Richard, “And he said, ‘Because I'm able and willing.’ And that really stuck with me, because almost everybody that I know is capable of doing a lot.”
When he talks to his community, Richard said he doesn’t just ask people to donate but to support the mission by sharing it with everyone they know.
“Are you willing to go out into your community of peers, be they friends, family, coworkers, associates, neighbors, whatever, and share our ‘gospel’ so that we can grow our community?” he asks. “I know you’re capable of doing that.”
Breakthrough science to improve lives
Dr. Barry said that the Hull family’s visit was deeply moving for his team.
“When I met Richard and Louise, I was struck by the love that they have for Elliott and the pain they feel from his loss. Our meeting was a powerful reminder about why we do this research. The Hull family is a prime example of what motivates our research group to pour our energy into pushing for a future where we have prevention, treatments, and cures for melanoma and other cancers. The support and personal commitment of the Hull family and their community help make this possible.”
Last May, Dr. Barry and members of his team also attended BOWL-A-NOMA as speakers and participants — and plan to attend again. “I am incredibly honored to be supported by this community,“ he said.
Bringing it all home
Now, Richard and the BOWL-A-NOMA community are gearing up for their May event, which will feature a 60s-themed party. Fundraising will once again honor Elliott by supporting breakthrough research in the Barry Lab.
“If you look at our BOWL-A-NOMA logo, there’s an element in it that brings it all home,” said Richard. “There’s a black [bowling] ball. On it is the monogram from Elliott’s signet ring that we had made for him when he turned 21. The number one purpose is to keep the spirit of my son Elliott alive. His spirit will definitely be present at BOWL-A-NOMA as we join together on May 20 to Strike Out Cancer and Spare A Life!”
— By Laura Anderson
Want to get involved? All are invited to join BOWL-A-NOMA on Saturday, May 20, at West Seattle Bowl in Seattle, Washington, or make a donation online. More information at bowlanoma.org.
Content Original Link:
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2021/02/heart-of-the-hutch-dedicated-supporters.html