Midwest bowlers will take aim on cancer at the third annual Joe Tomsu
Memorial Bowling Tournament to be held Oct. 7 at Thunder Bowl in Council
Bluffs. Proceeds from the tournament will go toward the University of Nebraska
Foundation and will be used to help advance cancer research at the University
of Nebraska Medical Center Eppley Cancer Center.
Tomsu, a well known bowler in the Omaha area, died from cancer in 1997.
His son, Matt, organized the tournament to memorialize his father and strengthen
the fight against cancer.
The tournament has continued to grow since its inception in 1999. Nearly
200 bowlers participated in the first two years of the tournament raising
almost $3,300.
“My dad was always big in bowling around Omaha, and everyone liked
him,” Matt Tomsu said. “After he died in 1997, we wanted to put on a tournament
in his memory. Then we decided to raise money for cancer research as well.
You want to fight back and there is not a whole lot you can do. This is
a way to fight back. This year, we’ve set a fund-raising goal of $2,000.”
Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center,
said research is the best weapon against cancer, a disease which will afflict
one in three Americans in their lifetime.
“We are very grateful for the efforts of Matt Tomsu to honor the memory
of his father by holding the bowling tournament,” Dr. Cowan said. “Fund-raising
events such as this tournament are important in our battle against cancer
and in our efforts to find better therapies to treat and prevent these
complex diseases. We appreciate the courage and compassion exhibited by
Mr. Tomsu in this generous effort.”
The tournament will feature two age divisions B 45 and over and 44 and
under. All bowlers will bowl eight qualifying games, then the top
32 bowlers will compete in a match play format. Entry fee is $100 before
Oct. 3 and $125 after that date. For more information on the tournament,
call Thunder Bowl at (712) 328-2374.
Sponsors of the tournament include Kelley’s Pro Shop, Omaha Lancers,
Lou Flott Construction, Five Star Construction, Alan and Marcia Baer Foundation,
Bowler’s Choice Pro Shop and Ebonite.
“This event means a lot to everybody who knew my dad,” Tomsu said. “I
know he would have enjoyed bowling in the tournament.”