York County Open Colorectal Cancer Awareness - Strike Out Colorectal Cancer

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My Personal Journey

PRESENTING SPONSOR<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://advisor.janney.com/smithwealthadvisory">Smith Wealth Advisory Group</a>Join us at the York County Open bowling tournament to support the Colon Cancer Coalition. Bowl with us from May 15-17, 2026 in York County, PA and help raise awareness for one of the fastest growing cancers for those under the age of 50. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against colon cancer!

We are Striking Out for Colo-Rectal Cancer Awareness! 1st-$5000 Guaranteed 

Mex Entries: 90 - Pre-Payment locks in your spot.All bowlers will start st Suburban Bowlerama, May 16th, 830AM Practice.These are the bowlers that have paid or registered online. I do have another list of 10 bowlers who have messaged me but have not confirmed.<ol><li>Chris Shanabrough - pd</li><li>Jered Lefever - pd</li><li>Danny Stafursky - pd</li><li>Kyle Jameson - pd</li><li>Jimmy Plessinger - pd</li><li>Brandon Updike - deposit</li><li>Dan Breen - pd</li><li>Andrew Campbell - pd</li><li>Connor Campbell - pd</li><li>Andrew Koicuba - pd</li><li>Josh Coleman - pd</li><li>Andrew Suscreba - pd</li><li>Eric Smith</li><li>Paul Wolfram - pd</li><li>Mike Spangler - pd</li><li>Adam Baer</li><li>Nick Ryn - pd</li><li>Ryan Porr</li><li>Ryan Graham</li><li>Rick Graham</li><li>Brandon Hinderer - pd</li><li>Chris Green</li><li>Jason Boyer</li><li>Kurtis Stidd</li><li>Scott Kincaid - pd</li><li>Jonathan Pleger - pd</li><li>Blayze Denny</li><li>JR Fleming</li><li>Ben Rugemer - pd</li><li>Kevin Bandrowski</li><li>Rodney Tennant</li><li>Dave Gerhart</li><li>Andrew Hurst</li><li>Alan Williams - pd</li><li>Zach Wentzel</li></ol>

We would like to welcome you to the first York County Open bowling tournament to support colon cancer awareness.The Problem:Lives are being cut short by colon cancer, and many of these deaths could be prevented through early detection and screening. Colorectal cancer is currently the no. 2 cancer killer and is estimated to be the no. 1 cause of cancer-related deaths for those under 50 by 2030!This event is dedicated to raising awareness and support for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coloncancercoalition.org/">Colon Cancer Coalition</a>, a leading organization committed to improving colon cancer prevention, research, and patient support.Taking place over the weekend of May 15-17, 2026, this collection of tournaments brings together the bowling community to bring awareness to early screening and diagnosis.If you'd like to make a donation directly to the Colon Cancer Coalition, please use<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://giving.coloncancercoalition.org/page/FundraiseYourWay?fbclid=IwY2xjawPeZrhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFoV0tRMW1jVElSc1hEcGFjc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhLCDAuhtyNa86TTRG3M1Y7w_OxpL6jV535Tb4SAA_WmiogHT682qbbQe7Dr_aem_prP-G8mLVqPirLahhLrz_w&amp;fundraiser=NHKQJZBY&amp;member=SFPPFBHU&amp;sharingVendor=facebook"> this link to our fundraiser.</a><h3></h3>

Join Us for the York County Open Bowling Tournament to Support Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Celebrate the top bowlers and outstanding contributors at our awards ceremony, highlighting the impact of community support in the fight against colorectal cancer.

Recognition and Awards Ceremony

Join us at Suburban Bowlerama for a fun-filled weekend of bowling to raise funds for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Compete individually or in teams and make a difference!

Charity Bowling Tournament

Sunday May 17th

Entry Fee: $55 ($5 is a donation)Max Field: 36 Bowlers1st Place: $500 (*36 bowlers)Check-In 45 minutes before squad time4 Game Total Pinfall Sweeper. 1:6 cash. Brackets / High Game PotsLocation:Lion Bowl 90 Martin St, Red Lion, PA 17356 717-244-6215 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://lionbowl.com/">www.lionbowl.com</a>

Friday May 15th 

Entry Fee: $200 ($25 is a donation)1st Place: Guaranteed at $5000Advancer's Round: Guaranteed at $40012 games of qualifying split between 2 squads and 2 bowling alleys. Bowlers will be assigned their starting Alley by May 3rd.<a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/main-event-flyer">Main Event Info</a> for tournament format.Saturday Locations:Suburban Bowlerama 1945 S. Queen St, York, PA 717-848-1632 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://suburbanbowlerama.com/">www.suburbanbowlerama.com</a>Hanover Bowling Center 1630 Broadway, Hanover, PA 717-632-2695 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://hbcbowl.com/">www.hbcbowl.com</a>Sunday Advancer's Location:South Hanover Lanes1767 Baltimore PIke Hanover, PA717-637-2672<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.southhanoverlanes.com/">https://www.southhanoverlanes.com/</a>

Saturday May 16th - Sunday May 17th

WALK-IN ONLY - Please let us know on Saturday if you are attending.Entry Fee: $85 ($5 is a donation)1st Place $1000 (Min 60 bowlers)Check-In: 8:30AM Practice: 9:30AM7 Game Total Pinfall Shootout. 1:6 Cash.Brackets / High Game PotsLocation:Laser Alleys 3905 E. Market St. York, PA 17402 (717) 755-2946 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://laseralleys.com/">www.laseralleys.com</a>

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Bowling for Awareness! Colorectal Cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers for people under the age of 50! This is an event to benefit the Colon Cancer Coalition.<h3>Entry Fee: $200* (Pre-Pay Required)</h3>*$25 Goes Directly to Colorectal Cancer CoalitionSquad A - SUBURBAN BOWLERAMA &nbsp;/ 1945 S. Queen St, York, PA Squad B - HANOVER BOWLING CENTER / 1630 Broadway, Hanover, PAAM QUALIFYING: 7:00 AM Check-In, 8:30 AM PracticePM QUALIFYING: 2:00 PM Check-In, 3:00 PM PracticeADVANCER’S ROUND: 8:00 AM Check-In, 9:00 AM Practice<h3>Qualifying Format:</h3><h3>12 Total Games at 2 Centers</h3><h3>Max Entries: 180 (Under 105 will be 1 squad)</h3><h4>You will bowl 6 games at one center in the morning based on your squad draw, then travel 30 minutes to the other center for 6 more games.</h4><h4>After 12 games, 1:4 bowlers make Advancer's Round to Sunday</h4><h4>Sunday: 6 Games (Pins Carry Over)</h4><h4>After 18 games, 1:4 of Advancer's will make the MatchPlay Bracket.</h4><h4>2 Game Total Pinfall Matches will take place until we have a Champion!</h4><h4>180 Player Field Prize Fund</h4>1st - $5000 2nd - $2500 3rd - $1500 4th - $10005th-8th - $750/ea. 9th-12th - $600/ea.<h4></h4><h4></h4><h4></h4><h4>How To Register:</h4><ul><li>Fill out the<a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/registration"> registration form</a></li></ul>The website will be updated as timely as possible that will confirm your entry.Add on your sweeper squad time with payment at the same time.<h4>Hotel Room Blocks:</h4><h4>Book by 4/21 for rate</h4><ul><li>$99/night + fees at Townplace Suites by Marriott York (Kings Only)</li><li>Use <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1766161486080&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink">this link </a>to book the hotel</li><li>$164/night + fees at Home2 Suites by Hilton York South (King + Pullout Sofa)</li><li>Use <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=THVYOHT&amp;arrivalDate=2026-05-15&amp;departureDate=2026-05-17&amp;groupCode=CHT928&amp;room1NumAdults=1&amp;cid=OM%2CWW%2CHILTONLINK%2CEN%2CDirectLink">this link</a> to book the hotel</li><li>$199/night + Fees @ Holiday Inn Express Hanover (2 queens)</li><li>Call -(717) 637-1228 - Mention York County Openn Bowling to get this rate</li></ul>

$5000 Guaranteed

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Check Back May 10th for your Squad Assignment (under 105 entries will be 1 squad)

If you are traveling with someone or have a preference for your starting center, we will accommodate on entries prior to May 1st.

I look forward to meeting all of you, this is going to be one heck of an event!!

<h3>Non-Advancer's Alternate 7-Gamer</h3>Walk-In Only

Hosted by April GornikPattern: Easier Sport Shot - To be Announced

I am beyond excited to be able to host the 2026 York County Open for Colorectal Cancer Awareness.Final details are still being planned, but if you would like to donate to a great cause, this is one I fully support!How high can we go?Fundraiser closes on May 31, 2026

$10,000 Goal

From age 4-12 I grew up in Northern England where my dad worked as a civilian on a small army base in a town called Harrogate. Since we weren’t military, we lived in town and my sister and I went to public school. Between England and a couple other states I have a mix of an accent going on. Growing up in those early years, I can tell you one thing, I had to POOP in private. No way Jose to public places, especially the dreaded school bathroom. (Picture) Now this meant frequent trips to the principal’s office for a “Stomach Ache”... My mom knew, sometimes she obliged and picked me up, sometimes she said, “Greg, No, Go POOP.” I would avoid it as much as possible and wait till the last possible moment at school… But here was this one time…well you can only imagine…it didn’t quite work out in my favor.. Underwear 1: Greg 0.Fast Forward through my teenage years and it was mostly the same thing, I mean who doesn’t like the comfort of their own home? Especially now with cell phones and reels, you can be in there for hours. Back then I usually finished sports illustrated in 20-30 minutes…As I navigated along into my dating years, it became even more awkward when it was time to go. I am sure we all remember their first time, having to POOP at your partner’s house. Back then, no potpourri, just the exhaust fan blaring away with a key indicator that something happened in there. That is when the relationship truly starts and becomes tested, right??As I plug along until my 40th birthday and naturally because everybody POOPs I overcame the fear and somewhat normalized into, well I gotta go, so I went.After turning 40, that is where my real DH (at work it is easier to use abbreviations for our categories) Journey begins...After eating, I routinely felt the urge and I would just sit there… and nothing….. This went on for a couple months. My wife encouraged me to go to the doctor..well webmd said… IBS or hemorrhoids.Now, I was working out a lot, so perhaps it was something simple. Either way, I promised her that after Astepro launched I would call the doctor.&nbsp;June 17 2022, I honored that promise and found a family doctor.Yes, I had to search for one, because like many guys, we just don’t call the doctor. There is no real treatment for the “man cold” ladies, you just have to deal with it. 5 minutes into the conversation and after the first time I mentioned blood in my stool, there was a quick assessment, you need to see the GI doctor she said, I’ll write you a referral. Well, this was a quick copay visit I thought, we could have handled this over the phone and I would have saved a copay.As I am sitting there watching the lady navigate through endless mouse wheels, we chat a little bit and she finally finds the next one… we can get you in December she said, we’re backed up. I said, wow, ok. I mean worst case if I am feeling better I will just cancel it. Why would you want to cancel it, she said? December is 6 months away, the only thing I schedule that far out is a vacation and the dentist… and one of those I don’t like going to anyways… She chuckled. Plus I am already feeling better, so probably just stress. I don’t know what was in her that day, but she took action. Hold up, give me a minute. A couple of phone calls later and she found an appt. for me a couple weeks later. A friday morning..even better… summer fridays, I only had to use ½ day of sick time.I stop by the company store the next day, grab a MIralax for PREP and wait till the day. People fear a Colonoscopy prep for some reason, but why? A day of clear fluids, a loss of 5lbs, a few hours of reel scrolling on your phone the evening before as Miralax does it’s thing. Not the most exciting thing on a Thursday night for sure, but not awful either. Of course you need a driver under anesthesia, so my wife and I head down for my early AM appt.Most friday afternoons summers you will see me on the golf course, today wouldn’t be any different. For some, anesthesia has some effect, for me I come out ready to go, like nothing hit me at all. I met the doctor, a young guy, who seemed fresh out of school. A quick explanation and I was ready to go. 15 minutes he said, perfect I said. I wake up, the nurse grabs me an apple juice in recovery. A few minutes later, the doctor comes in with my results.&nbsp;To further re-confirm that this doctor was fresh out of school he got straight to the point.Mr. Bruff, You have cancer! I said, are you sure? He said 99% and showed me the images. The next few minutes were a blur, but the nurse asked if I should bring my wife in. I said, no way, she has to drive us home. I can’t tell her here.I get released, head to the car and the drive home starts. I get a text from my dad, how did the appt go, I text back. Not good! Then my phone starts ringing through the car and I ignore it, my wife asks why and I just say, I’ll call him back when we get home. I text him back and say I’ll call you in a bit. It is never easy telling your wife bad news, especially this, but after a quick check of my e-mail I head downstairs to deliver the news. You can only imagine how that went…The next month flew by after visit upon visit planning an attack of my newly diagnosed Colorectal Cancer. Radiation / Chemo a 5 month plan to tackle it! It was an aggressive approach with some of the worst pain of my life, but I made it through. By January 2023 it was time for the results….. Mr. Bruff, the Cancer is gone!I had no doubt I would beat it, it was a challenge and I love challenges.We now had 2 options.&nbsp;<ol><li>Have surgery to remove the area where the cancer was and be left with an ostomy bag for the rest of my life or</li><li>Monitor every 2 months for the next 2 years for recurrence.</li></ol>Given I was 40 and active, I chose option 2. Now, there are no stats about which option is best long-term, but checking up every 2 months seemed much better. Check-Up 1, no issue, Check-Up 2…. Let’s check again next month. By July 2023, my cancer had returned. Unfortunately, it had spread. Stage IV lung metastasized colorectal cancer (mCRC) Cancerous lung nodules had developed and my Colorectal cancer returned. Another aggressive pursuit to control the disease carried me the next 9 months, completed by a permanent ostomy bag to remove all of the cancerous tissue. One step down, I said, as I spent May 2024 recovering!&nbsp;Next up, the 5 lung nodules!&nbsp;Over the next 18 months, chemo / clinical trials / more chemo / photon therapy / the works. I am not going down without a fight. By the fall of 2025 I was feeling great. I spent the summer golfing and bowling.Fun Fact: I started bowling at age 4 when I lived in England and kept at it ever since. My Grandpa (RIP), my Parents, both bowled League when I was younger. Personally, I bowled collegiately at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan where we finished 2nd one year for the national championship.I have many perfect games, I personally don’t keep track, probably north of 50. 25+ - 800 series... if I turned them all in for certification. In 2011 I even won a professional regional title, that was my prime years for sure.&nbsp;Sorry, Joey Pants! Thanks for not bringing up your bitterness anymore. But I am one-handed if that helps!In August 2025 I bowled my final event, well at least the one where I felt I could win and I snagged one of the last cash spots. I had been bowling for 40 years, it had given me everything I could want and I gave it everything I could give. When you compete at something at the highest of levels, the only way I knew I could stop is to actually stop. Bowling league with my friends I would miss, but I am way too competitive to just bowl once every 2 weeks for fun, if I wasn’t giving it my best, I couldn't give it at all.&nbsp;It was time to focus on something else, now it was time to find that something else!Next up on my treatment plan was 2 late stage options. One of which I knew familiarly well.&nbsp;See, along this Journey I have had the pleasure to get to know some great people on the Pharma side of Bayer. I met them a few years ago after my mCRC ironically through a guy at the Bayer Whippany gym who was wearing a 5K shirt with our logo on the back and Colorectal Cancer Coalition on the front. Inquisitive I get to chatting and we talk about my story. He says, come visit me at lunch, which I did and I met the Stivarga Team! Who knew, Bayer made a drug that was directly related to my mCRC. They have been a guidance for me over the last few years, offering insight, education, and consultation through my journey. I have had the chance to be a speaker on some of their calls both internally and external outreach. I love sharing my story, it is a way to encourage others to listen to their bodies, talk to their doctor’s, no matter what it is about. I know, without a doubt that if the lady in the doctor’s office hadn't found me an appt a couple weeks later, I wouldn’t be here today. She certainly gave me a lease on life!!November 2025 came around and we headed down south to celebrate my Niece’s 4th bday, the house was full! The following weekend, my parents came back up again. I wanted to spend more time with them, so my dad and I decided to start going through our collection of cards and collectibles and setting up at local card shows. It was something fun we could do together, plus the only way to get anywhere close to value for the millions of things we had. This was something I could focus on, helping my parents continue to downsize all their stuff so my dad can retire and they can move closer to my Sister’s family. My mom has spent every week there the last 4 years helping them watch Rose, but now she is ready for school more, so those days are coming to an end. With my health, I wanted to make sure I buttoned up all loose ends and having my dad retired and them living near them is on it.Like most nights, I sleep maybe 5 hours, then toss and turn, scroll my phone, hoping to get back to sleep from 6-8 or so for a little nap. This day was going to be no different, until it wasn’t. I had gotten out of bed around 5 and on my way back I felt a little pinch in my lower back. It felt different, but thinking nothing of it, I lay back in bed and caught a little ZZZ’s. By 8am, I was ready to go, turn over, get ouf of I screamed in pain. MY back was locked up and I was on the floor.. My family runs in to help as I lay there wondering, WTF was that. It took a few minutes for me to get up and back in bed. Some ice/heat/stretching and it seemed ok. Aimee and I got the car packed as we were heading to our vacation home for the week that morning. I was able to get some steroids that week which seemed to do the trick. My next follow up with Oncology was in 2 weeks and my back wasn’t feeling great still and I was walking gingerly so she sent me directly to imaging. The results…not good. My L3 was fractured and there was noticeable cancer in the area. It had spread again! Back to the drawing board. A few more consultations and it was time to get aggressive! L2 to L4 back fusion surgery was scheduled for over Thanksgiving.&nbsp;The surgery went well and I was walking a couple hours after, by day 2, I was chatting it up with all the staff and day 3 I was dressed, sitting in my room waiting for the doctor to release me. The only pain I really felt was in my neck. I had to hold it up to move around in bed. It felt like severe whiplash and the only thought I had was what kind of position was my head in during this surgery and there has to be a more comfortable design for that surgery bed.Over the next month, I slowly recover from back surgery, while still fighting this neck pain. My back hurt, my legs felt numb… all part of the recovery process, which is 6 months to a year for some. In true Greg fashion there were a few times were I didn't take it easy and of course, fell down, luckily inside the house, but that floor is hard. My neck was a little better, but still had pain. Chiro / Massage / Heat / Ice - nothing did the trick except for good ole fashion drugs to help the pain. I called the neuro office on Dec 22 and asked if she could schedule me for some PT. Ironically, Dave and Sue (MIL/FIL) took my out to Red Robin for my free birthday Burger. (Dec 4, 1981) No problem as Ironically we were a mile from the place and it is never busy so I schedule it right away. In and out in 5 minutes, I get dropped off and back to work. In 30 minutes my phone is blowing up with an urgent call to head to the ER immediately. So, sometime either during the surgery or during the self treatment for my neck pain my C3 was shattered. Well, that explains a lot. I was literally one bad step away from something major. After a day in the hospital I was given the option to stay over Christmas for 5 days and have surgery or return home, spend Christmas there but I wasn't allowed to remove my neck brace at all. I said lock down, my neck, I am heading home. My family has already planned to spend Christmas at our house. Normally we head to the vacation home, but that wasn't the best place to recover from back surgery. Plus, there really isn’t anything for a 4 year old to do there when it is cold outside. On December 29th I have C2 to C4 fusion surgery. According to the surgeon he did a masterpiece in there, some of his best work! All in 90 minutes instead of 2-3 hours, so it must have been.&nbsp;Once again I rebound from anaesthesia like a champ, rechat it up with the nurses, recover quickly and Dec 31st I am heading home for New Years!10 weeks in a neck brace is what he said to my wife, I thought it was 6! We’ll see, ever the negotiator I am. The next couple of days was only fluids as it took some time for my trachea and windpipe to recover from being moved around. Food had to be chewed completely after that, but still got caught in my throat. This led to some serious coughing fits, which isn’t good when recovering from back surgery, that set me back a few weeks for sure. The brace isn’t awful, looks funny, but not awful. Sleeping is the toughest part. See, I am a belly sleeper and that wasn’t an option during my back recovery, so now a neck brace and I have to sleep on my back… you can imagine how that is going!Here we are, February 2nd, 2026 which is the day I started writing this story. It started as a My Digestive Healthy Journey article for work, but it has expanded into something, well not a 10-15 minute work presentation, so I will have to pair it down some for that. Currently this is page 5, but since I want to put together the whole story above, maybe for a magazine/book some day, who knows what page this will be. When I wake up at 2am, all sorts of thoughts go through my head, so hopefully this becomes a way to get them to paper.To each and every Framily member (Yes, if you are a Friend, you are Family), your support along this Journey has meant everything. I am an open book, blunt, honest and that is what people respect about me. I will tell you how it is, and it comes from the heart, with love.This is part one of the next phase of Greg's Journey.... The future of it, you'll have to wait and see!

Greg's Journey (Facebook)

York County Open Colorectal Cancer Awareness

We are Striking Out for Colo-Rectal Cancer Awareness! 1st-$5000 Guaranteed

Join Us for the York County Open Bowling Tournament to Support Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Strike out cancer, bowl for hope!

Schedule of Events

Friday May 15th

Saturday May 16th - Sunday May 17th

Sunday May 17th

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the event support the Colon Cancer Coalition?

Is there a hotel reservation block?

How do I sign up?

Contact Us

Greg.Bruff@gmail.com