Bowlers Rack Up Strikes in Cystic Fibrosis Fund-Raiser

LA HABRA —  Standing 4 feet, 5 inches and weighing 50 pounds, young Jessie Turner hardly seemed strong enough to hold herself steady, let alone to send a bowling ball sailing toward a spare.

But not only was the 10-year-old determined to land a high score Saturday at the La Habra 300 bowling alley, she also had her mind set on finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.

“I’m glad they’re doing this,” she said, referring to the 12th annual Bowl for Breath fund-raiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “They need to find a cure.”

Jessie, who has cystic fibrosis, returned home Friday after spending two weeks at Childrens Hospital of Orange County for her usual bimonthly treatment.

Her matter-of-fact reasoning about finding a cure echoed the sentiments of many of those bowling Saturday afternoon at about 20 alleys throughout the county.

Earlier this year, scientists discovered the chromosome that carries the gene causing cystic fibrosis, providing what many call the biggest medical breakthrough in decades. Organizers of Saturday’s event say more young people are killed by cystic fibrosis--a degenerative disease causing certain cells to secrete excessive mucus that accumulates, preventing normal breathing and digestion--than by any other inherited disease. The discovery prompted optimism that a cure would be found.

“They’re really close to finding a cure,” said James Casper, 15, a Boy Scout who raised about $9,000 for the foundation by organizing the bowl-a-thon at La Habra 300. “It’s really special to me, being able to help people around the country like this.”

About 100 participants bowled with Jessie in La Habra, making it one of the larger turnouts, compared to crowds of 20 and 30 in alleys elsewhere in the county. Other groups, though smaller, were equally impassioned.

Fountain Valley Bowl was renamed Jillian’s Bowl for the day. Twelve-year-old Jillian Gemeinhardt, a Garden Grove girl afflicted with the disease, alone raised $300 last year.

This year, she said, “I think we’re going to raise enough to find a cure.”

A few participants Saturday said no one close to them suffers from the disease, but after they heard a cure was closer to hand, they wanted to help.

“I couldn’t explain it. Something inside me said, ‘Go out, do your best, and raise as much money as you can,’ ” said Luis Ortiz, 27, a data processing technician who raised about $600 at the Regal Lanes in Orange.

“I wouldn’t call it a calling or anything. I just felt good about it at the time.”

Nanci Freedberg, director of special events for the foundation in Orange County, said the group expects to raise about $80,000, which will be used for research and also to fund clinics and pharmacies that the foundation helps support. Various organizations, including the Jaycees and student groups at Cal State Fullerton, helped organize the bowling event, she said.

Employees of Carl’s Jr. restaurants also bowled Saturday, and the corporation helped sponsor the event by promoting it through advertisements at its fast-food chain.

Freedberg said the thrust to raise money was especially high throughout the nation this year because of the discovery of the disease-carrying chromosome and the resulting optimism.

“We’re looking for a big victory party real soon,” said Pete Casper, the father of the Boy Scout who organized the bowling event in La Habra, “when they find a cure.”