The final frame is up on the scoreboard when it comes to the Bowling for Bentley fundraiser benefiting the Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City. Using a bowling term, you could say the event had a turkey in its final game.
Totals from Saturday hit $20,000, moving the 10-year total to $126,000. Flint Hills Lanes was full for the event and the field of participating teams filled up weeks ago.
The fundraiser was developed months after Bentley Clark, Shelby and Johnny Clark’s son, was born with a significant heart defect and passed away shortly after he was born. Shelby Clark says the family was proud to support the Ronald McDonald House after spending a lot of time at the facility in Kansas City during Bentley’s short but meaningful life.
Clark says she was “ready to get it going but not ready for it to end.” She says the community support for the event and her family goes well beyond the fundraising amount, which has been impressive — over $100,000 the first nine years of the event.
The Ronald McDonald House provides lodging, food, comfort items and other basic necessities for families with children battling serious health issues at no cost to the families.
Shelby Clark says the family plans to continue fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House, although upcoming fundraisers may be more “low-key” and plans for those haven’t finalized yet.
