On Aug. 9, 2011, Pee Dee South Carolina APA member Justin Tidwell was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer. Justin missed the entire Fall Session due to surgery and radiation treatments, but he didn’t spend that time sulking. Instead, he used his time during treatments and hospital stays to develop a website devoted to raising money to help those who, like him, have little to no medical insurance. You can access the site at cafepress.com/tracshop.
On Jan. 14, 2012, Pee Dee South Carolina APA League Operators Richard and Regina Johnson did what they could to help Justin by organizing a fundraiser. Taking place at Stroker’s Billiards in Sumter, S.C., and featuring a double elimination Singles tournament as well as raffles, the benefit raised $473. A total of $413 went directly to Justin and $60 went to the winner of the tournament, which just so happened to be Justin! Justin then gave $40 of his winnings to the 2nd Place finisher, Brian Timmons.
Justin has completed his treatments and will know if the cancer is completely gone when he returns to the doctor next month. “He is in great spirits and has returned to play in the League for the Spring Session,” said Regina.
For more information on the Pee Dee South Carolina APA visit peedeesouthcarolina.apaleagues.com.
Northwest Dallas County APA raised $470 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure during two separate events. League Operator Lori Way donated two Action pool cues that were raffled off to raise money for the charity—both were signed by APA spokesperson Jeannette Lee “The Black Widow” and Robin Dodson. The first drawing was held during the 2011 Summer Awards Ceremony on Sept. 25, with Jonathan Bearfield becoming the first winner. The second cue was raffled off during the 2011 Top Gun Tournament on Nov. 11— Tony St. Clair was the lucky recipient of that cue.
For more information on Susan G. Komen for the Cure please visit komen.org; and for more information on Northwest Dallas County APA visit nwdallas.apaleagues.com.
If you were at Cue Ball Billiards in Bakersfield, Calif., Halloween weekend you might have thought you stumbled into a costume party. But in reality, the men wearing bras weren’t trying to win a costume contest, they were “supporting” a good cause. APA of Bakersfield held a 9-Ball Singles tournament to raise money for the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer awareness. In addition to the $10 entry fee, all participants had to wear a bra.
League Operator Michelle Henry wanted the tournament to be a fun event. “We used APA rules, but no handicaps,” Henry said. “Each player was given three life lines—ask a friend (coaching time-out), use a friend (have someone else shoot one shot for them), and pass (turn the table over to the opponent without penalty). The tournament was about having fun and raising money and we did both.” A total of $400 was raised for the American Cancer Society.
Thirty-nine players participated in the modified single elimination tournament that saw Ryan Bonilla take 1st Place. Wayne Moore won the Biggest Supporter prize. Moore was voted best dressed and best attitude by the participants.
For more information on the American Cancer Society visit cancer.org; and for more information on the APA of Bakersfield visit bakersfield.apaleagues.com.
During the month of October, APA of Maryland sent a flier to all teams requesting donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. For a $3 donation players received an APA Pink Ribbon patch, and for a $15 donation they received an APA Shoot for the Cure t-shirt. Over 400 patches and 200 t-shirts were sent out, with the local APA Office donating the cost of the patches and t-shirts. Thanks to the generosity of APA members, $4,239 was collected for the cause!
For more information on the Susan G. Komen Foundation visit komen.org, and for more information on the APA of Maryland visit apapool.com.
The Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill APA’s female players have come together to play pool AND make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Since 2006, the APA Ladies “Tour for the Cure” offers local area female players the chance to get together for some great competition while also raising money to help find a cure for breast cancer. Leslie Boulware, APA member since 1993, is the brains behind the tour and serves as Tournament Director. By her side, serving as the Executive Director of Operations, is Karl Kurak, APA member since 2003.
The APA Ladies “Tour for the Cure” consists of eight, one-day tournaments a year. The tour alternates between 8-ball and 9-ball handicapped tournaments and the skill levels of the women participating vary, everything from a skill level 2 to a couple of skill level 7’s. The tour sells 30 to 40 tour cards a year and averages 20 players per event. The tournaments rotate through local APA host locations that choose to participate, with Buck’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC and On The Snap Billiards in Fuquay Varina, NC being the main sponsor locations. So far, the APA Ladies “Tour for the Cure” has raised over $6,000.00 towards the fight against breast cancer.
As tour director, Leslie Boulware states, “We are very proud of what we have done over the past years. It is a fantastic opportunity for the women in our area to get to know each other, to raise money and awareness for a great cause, and to have our own tournament to take part in. It is always a fun day, full of ‘pinkness,’ pool and camaraderie.”
For more information on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill APA visit apa-raleigh.com.
Western Nebraska APA continued their mission to help fight cancer by hosting their second Fun & Cash Singles Tournament of the session—this one using the 8-Ball format. As with the previous Fun & Cash Tournament, $1,500 in prize money was up for grabs. Prize money was once again donated by Western Nebraska APA, allowing entry fees to be donated to the charity. The event raised $130, bringing the session total up to $1,312.
Twenty-one shooters competed in the modified single elimination tournament held March 26 at Big Apple Fun Center in Kearney, Neb. Chris Caddy won the tournament, with Justin Butts finishing in 2nd Place. The tournament board was drawn so players of similar abilities matched up in the first round.
In addition to entry fees, money for the charity was raised via raffles and donations. Raffle tickets not only gave donors a chance to win a t-shirt the day of the tournament, but also a chance to win a leather jacket in a grand prize drawing that’ll take place at the end of the Spring Session. Adding to the fun, a free drawing for APA t-shirts was held to start the event. Winners of the drawing were: Spencer Kehl, Amanda Pearson, Jeremy Loomis and Justin Butts.
For more information on the American Cancer Society visit cancer.org, and for more information on the Western Nebraska APA visit nebraska.apaleagues.com.
During Western Nebraska APA’s Annual 9-Ball Fun & Cash Singles Tournament, $1,500 in prize money was up for grabs. The event was held on Feb. 12 at three different locations in Sidney, Neb.— Silver Dollar, Harvey’s and Stewies. Forty-eight shooters competed, with the top 16 earning cash prizes. Western Nebraska APA donated the $1,500 in prize money, which meant that every dollar of the entry fee went to cancer research.
Raffle tickets were also sold, and donations were accepted. The event raised $539 for the American Cancer Society. Prizes for the raffles included t-shirts, and all tickets purchased were entered into a grand prize drawing for a leather jacket. The grand prize drawing will take place at the end of the session. The t-shirts and jacket were also donated by Western Nebraska APA.
First place in the tournament went to Barry Shepard of Kimball, Neb., who won $350. He defeated Anne Sterling of Sidney, Neb., in the finals. Sterling collected $250 for finishing in 2nd Place. Both Shepard and Sterling donated $50 of their winnings back to the cause.
Kaylee Henzie of Lodgepole, Neb., donated $15 of the $50 prize money she earned for her 9th Place tie. Royce and Beth Ann Penner of Ogallala, Neb., didn’t make it into the money round, but still made a very generous $100 donation.
For more information on the American Cancer Society visit cancer.org, and for more information on the Western Nebraska APA visit nebraska.apaleagues.com.
The Think Pink Tour is a series of 9-Ball tournaments that will be held throughout 2011 in the Virginia Beach, Va., area. There are separate men’s and women’s brackets—participants will accrue points earned during monthly events and champions will be crowned in December. A portion of all entry fees collected will go towards Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink for the Cure®. In addition to entry fees, there will be raffles and other methods to make donations at each tour stop. You don’t have to attend an event to participate in these wonderful fundraisers—donations can also be made to Southside APA League Operator Michelle Arrigo.
For more information, check out the Think Pink Tour Flyer by clicking here, visit the Southside APA website at southsideapa.com, or contact Michelle Arrigo at michellearrigo@gmail.com.
On Oct. 9, members of Greater Wichita APA participated in the Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walk at Exploration Place in Wichita, Kan. The walk is held annually to honor and remember those stricken with cancer. The Leukemia Lymphoma Society is an organization near and dear to League Operators Dwight and Laura Mewes, as Laura’s sister has been battling Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma for three years.
In addition to the walk, Greater Wichita APA helped raise money by hosting a garage sale where members donated items and signed the “Light the Night” balloons. Donation boxes were setup at Host Locations, and collection envelopes were included in team packets. A total of $1,462.50 was collected to help in the fight against cancer.
For more information about the Leukemia Lymphoma Society visit leukemia-lymphoma.org, and for more information on Greater Wichita APA visit greaterwichita.apaleagues.com.
Every year Western Nebraska APA League Operators Joe and Carmen Bond dedicate their entire Spring Session to raising money for cancer research. Donations are collected through weekly team packets, raffles and two tournaments—with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
The first tournament, a 9-Ball Singles event, was held Feb. 13 at Walker’s Steakhouse in Gothenburg, Neb. Lois Holbein took 1st place in the modified single elimination tournament, where 27 participants competed.
The second tournament, an 8-Ball event held on March 27 at the Touchdown Club in North Platte, Neb., hosted 47 players. Ashley Osienger took 1st place in the modified single elimination event.
To ensure that every dollar raised from entry fees can be donated to the American Cancer Society, Western Nebraska APA provides $1,500 in prize money to each tournament.
$1,301 was raised for cancer research through donations, raffles and tournaments. For more information on the Western Nebraska APA visit nebraska.apaleagues.com and for more information about the American Cancer Society please visit cancer.org.
