4th Annual 'Bowl For Ronnie' Celebrity Bowling Tournament Raises $74,000 For 'Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund'

The fourth annual "Bowl For Ronnie" celebrity bowling tournament, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, held on Thursday, October 25 at Pinz bowling center in Studio City, California, was once again sold out in advance. This year's event brought in its largest amount yet — $74,000 — for the music-based organization that has been raising awareness and much-needed funding for cancer research since 2010.

Over 300 rockers, bowling enthusiasts, Dio fans and Dio Cancer Fund supporters made up the capacity crowd with the event hosted by broadcast personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM's Volume channel and whose TV series "TrunkFest" airs on AXS TV.

Rock musicians and celebrities in attendance this year included:

* Doug Aldrich (DIO, WHITESNAKE, THE DEAD DAISIES)
* Kenny Aronoff (CHICKENFOOT)
* Ira Black (I AM MORBID, LIZZY BORDEN, METAL CHURCH)
* Jack Black
* Bobby Blotzer (RATT)
* Geezer Butler (BLACK SABBATH)
* Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES)
* Fred Coury (CINDERELLA)
* Greg D'Angelo (ANTHRAX, WHITE LION)
* Marc Ferrari (KEEL, COLD SWEAT)
* Rita Haney
* Terry Ilous (GREAT WHITE)
* Adam Jones (TOOL)
* Richie Kotzen (THE WINERY DOGS, MR. BIG)
* Sean McNabb (LYNCH MOB)
* Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, PROPHETS OF RAGE)
* Marty O'Brien (METHODS OF MAYHEM, LITA FORD)
* Gonzo and Phil Sandoval (ARMORED SAINT)
* Brett Scallions (FUEL)
* Otep Shamaya (OTEP)
* Howie Simon (ALCATRAZZ)
* Jeff Scott Soto (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA)
* Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, FATES WARNING)
* Scott Warren and Simon Wright (DIO)
* Ricky Warwick (BLACK STAR RIDERS)
* Chas West (LYNCH MOB, WEST BOUND)

The Dio Cancer Fund presented a check for $61,000 to Dr. David Wong and his research team from the Dental Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles where they are developing a non-invasive saliva test for early cancer detection. This money will fund the gastric cancer research of team member Dr. Karolina Kaczor-Urbanowicz for the coming year. Dr. Wong believes this simple test will receive FDA approval and become available for medical use within the next two years.

"Bowl For Ronnie" attendees were treated to an evening of fun, food, raffle drawings, and, of course, the bowling competition for trophies in the name of raising funds and awareness for the Dio Cancer Fund. 100% of the net proceeds from the "Bowl For Ronnie" will go to further the Dio Cancer Fund's mission of cancer prevention, research and education.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund was formed in memory of the legendary rock singer Ronnie James Dio, who lost his life to gastric cancer in 2010. A privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund has already raised over $2 million in its short history. Monies raised have been committed to the cancer research work of the T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research, the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life, and other cancer research projects. The Dio Cancer Fund has committed funds to support the research of Dr. David Wong and his team at the UCLA School of Dentistry in developing a simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer, which is in keeping with the Fund's mission of cancer prevention, research and education.

Photo by Alex Kluft