Bowling fundraiser aims to strike out cancer

March 27--WILKES-BARRE -- Frank Tarselli said he was bowling terribly Sunday, but having a great time.

He's just happy to be healthy nowadays. Beating cancer has a way of putting things into perspective, he says.

Tarselli, more than 20 other cancer survivors, and hundreds of supporters took over the lanes of Chacko's Family Bowling Center on Sunday for an American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" fundraiser. The fourth annual event, organized by R.J. Financial Services in Hanover Township, was expected to raise $15,000 to help local cancer causes.

"It's terrific. It's amazing," Tarselli said.

Tarselli, 70, said he found out he had a cancerous brain tumor two years ago after becoming ill while driving. His body went numb. Doctors soon determined he had a brain tumor. He later had successful surgery to remove the tumor and them completed chemotherapy and radiation.

The Sugarloaf Township man and his wife, Marie, have three daughters and three grandchildren who supported them throughout the battle.

"Brain surgery sounded like the scariest surgery in the world," said Tarselli's daughter, Gina.

Tarselli proud wore a "cancer survivor" sticker on Sunday during the event. A highlight of the event occurred when he and the other survivors simultaneously rolled their bowling balls down the lanes to kick off the festivities.

Tarselli worked at the nuclear power plant in Salem Township as a senior reactor operator until he retired 2009, but they urged him to come back as a consultant. He worked as a consultant until his diagnosis.

"I'm retired retired now," he joked Sunday.

Sunday's fundraiser attracted more than 300 bowlers, said Ron Davis, of R.J. Financial Services, which organized the event.

"Personally, I have been affected from cancers -- family members, coworkers and friends. This is a passion of mine to find a cure," Davis said.

Ryan Schofield, a representative with the American Cancer Society, said usually the organization has to do a lot of the legwork for such fundraisers, but Davis and his crew did most of the work. He joked that Davis "sold out" the place, a sign of great planning.

"All of our events are about celebrating survivors and creating more survivors," Schofield said.

bkalinwoski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

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