“BOWL FOR RONNIE” CELEBRITY BOWLING PARTY RAISES OVER $70,000 FOR CANCER FUND

Rockers, bowling enthusiasts, DIO fans and supporters returned to PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City, California on November 14 for the annual BOWL FOR RONNIE Celebrity Bowling Party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org). Officially sold out well in advance, the event brought in over $70,000 for the music-based cancer charity.

Hosted by broadcast personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM’s 103 Faction Talk channel, this year’s attendees included musicians Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath); Regina Banali; Chris Beall and Jerry Dixon of Warrant; Ira Black (Bullet Boys, Dio Disciples); Mark Boals (Ring of Fire, Dio Disciples); Phil Buckman and Brett Scallions of Fuel; Mike Cancino and Rob Math (Soul Sign); Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses); Jeremy Colson (Steve Vai, Sebastian Bach); Fred Coury (Cinderella); Stoney Curtis (Count’s 77); Phil Demmel (Kerry King, Machine Head); Matt Duncan (DC4); Bjorn Englen (Dio Band, Soul Sign); Marc Ferrari (Keel, Cold Sweat); Damon Fox (The Cult, Bigelf); Eric Gamans (Cold Sweat); Juan Garcia (Agent Steele, Evil Dead); Abby Gennet (Slunt); Billy Graziadei (Biohazard); Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns); John Heintz (Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown); DJ Will Howell of KNAC.com; Paul Hudson (Stonebreed); Jesse Hughes and Jennie Vee of Eagles of Death Metal; Rob Jones and Chaz Ruiz of Yachtley Crew; Danny Koker (Count’s 77, Faster Pussycat); Sam Bam Koltun (Faster Pussycat, Dorothy); Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs); Julia Lage (Vixen); Luis Maldonado and Jeff Pilson of Foreigner; Sean McNabb (Dokken, Quiet Riot); Billy McNicol (Billy McNicol Band); Jason Charles Miller; Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave); Dave “Chili” Moreno (Puddle of Mudd, Westbound); Marty O’Brien (Daughtry, Lita Ford); Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down); Orianthi; Tim “Ripper” Owens (KK’s Priest); Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats); Robert Sarzo (Hurricane); Rudy Sarzo (Dio, Quiet Riot); Clint Schultz; Howie Simon (Alcatrazz); Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe); Jason Sutter (Cher); Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, The Dead Daisies); Neil Turbin (Anthrax); Chris Velez (Lightning Swords of Death, Persecutor); Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth, Savagelands); Doug Weiand (Death Dealer Union); Chas West and Jason Cornwell of West Bound; Scott Warren and Simon Wright (Dio, Dio Disciples); August Zadra (Dennis DeYoung); producer Wyn Davis, comedian Lisa Curry and actors Kurt Deimer, Corey Feldman, Star Fields (“Sons of Anarchy”) and Zack Ward (“A Christmas Story Christmas”) as well as influencer Anwar Hadid and Jonathan Martin of Walnut Creek, California, who was the highest bidder in the Ebay auction to play on Eddie Trunk’s team.

The Board of Directors presented Dr. David Wong, whose team at the UCLA School of Dentistry has had the support of the Dio Cancer Fund for its research in the development of salivary biomarkers for gastric cancer detection since 2016, a check for an additional $25,000 toward his team’s research on a simple, non-invasive saliva swab test for early cancer detection.

Following an interlude of feverish bowling, the winning teams—which include ties for 2^nd Place in both the Celebrity and Sponsor categories—were presented with trophies by Wendy Dio and Eddie Trunk.

In addition to all of the celebrities who continuously support and participate in our events, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund would like to thank everyone who generously donated by sponsoring a lane: 5b Artist Management, BMG, Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, Clair Global, Danny Wimmer Presents, Danny Zelisko Presents, DEB Concerts, Global Merchandising Services, Inc., Horns for Padavona, Kapoor Medical, McBride Wealth Management, Mercury Studios, Metal Blade Records, Niji Entertainment Group, Inc., Pants Optional, Rhino/Warner Bros. Records, Rick Sales Entertainment, Savran, Sound Talent Group, Spectacle Group, The Kirby Organization (TKO), There Bowls My Hero, Upstaging and Viper Cabling;

…and the volunteers who generously gave of their time: Lauren Aloy, Kia Andersson, Deme Bermudez, Bella Beuder, Kaley Block, Michael Bradbury, PG Brunelli, Trina Campbell, Jeff Coggins, Michele Coombe, Carlon Dawson, Delilah Gimenez Dio, Omar Gimenez, Scot Kaufman, Gene Kirkland, Alex Kluft, Asha Luevano, Sheila Melody, Sabrina Ment, Sultira Montgomery, Kristen Mourad, Craig Newman, Paula Newman, Michelle Parisi, Nicole Simpson, Liz Walton, Sarah Weiss and Sharon Weisz.

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 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. Since 2016, 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.

Photos by contributor Joe Schaeffer for The Pure Rock Shop. More coverage here. News Posted on 12/9/2024