Second annual Gil Rogers, Jr. Memorial Bowl-A-Thon will be on November 14, 2009 to support No More Fathers Lost.

(Middletown, Connecticut) October 26, 2009 – When Middletown native Gil Rogers, Jr. was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, he knuckled down for a fight. With his children, Katy Vereneau and Gil Rogers, III, brother Steve, nephew Jamie, and a cadre of friends by his side, Rogers devoured information on his type of cancer. He followed his doctors’ advice to the letter. The disease that took their patriarch, Gil Rogers, Sr. was unfortunately familiar to the Rogers family, and they banded together to battle the disease that already once took a father and a friend.

Gil Rogers, Jr. lost his battle to cancer amid a storm of medical crises in August of 2008, shortly before his son’s wedding. A family of fighters with a fierce sense of humor, the Rogers clan knew the best way to honor the memory of their loved one was through helping others like him – and them – and have fun while doing it.

“Our family wanted to do something in [my father’s] memory, but also ensure that no other families one day had to lose their father figure to cancer,” Gil Rogers III explains. “I originally created a fundraising page for the American Cancer Society with the mantra ‘No More Fathers Lost’. My uncle Steve suggested that we think of something bigger, so here we are.”

“We wanted to keep the donations local and have the money go right to the source of research,” Katy Vereneau adds. “We wanted to kick off our organization with an event that would get our name out and to be able to donate a large amount to UCONN. My role in organizing the first bowl-a-thon started with trying to contact local business’ to help with raffles prizes and invite them to our event. I found many business so willing to give – even to a complete stranger – that it really surprised me how selfless people still can be even in this day and age, even in these hard times. When I told them about my father and are organization I could see this in there eyes that this was something they wanted to be a part of.”

This second annual Gil Rogers, Jr. Memorial Bowl-A-Thon is shaping up to be better than the first. No More Fathers Lost was able to raise over $10,000 that was donated in its entirety to the University of Connecticut Health Center’s Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center during the first bowl-a-thon, and the Rogers family is hard at work on topping that this year. Working with Parker Hannifin, No More Fathers Lost is looking to provide even more support directly to the Neag Cancer Center.

“My father showed me what it means to love your family unconditionally and do whatever you need to do to build those around you up to be the best they can,” Gil Rogers, III remembers. “He was a true leader and friend.”

“He was a man that would push aside his own feelings or hardships for the smile of a child, friend or loved one,” Katy adds.

Bring your family to join theirs on November 14, 2009 at Laurel Lanes in Plainville, CT from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and help bring about a day when no more fathers are lost to cancer. Registration is only $20 and includes shoes, unlimited bowling, complimentary food, and a ton of fun.  The more friends you bring, the more fun you have because its one big three hour long family friendly party. Beyond bowling fun, there will also be a huge raffle during the event with a multitude of prizes, including authentic athletic team jerseys, gift certificates to local jewelers, prizes for kids, crafts, and more! To register to bowl, call Gil, III directly at 860-559-8461 or online at nomorefatherslost.org. Register now to help the fight against cancers of all kinds, and help ensure families get all the time they can with their fathers.