Hugs, handshakes and smiles filled Cardinal Lanes Sunday afternoon as 25 Ball State University employees participated in a bowling tournament.
The purpose of the tournament was to raise money to support former employee, Chris Dennis, diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in January.
Lou Gehrig's disease is a progressive, fatal neurological disease that impairs and destroys nerve cells that control motor function, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Proceeds from the tournament will assist Dennis, a 24-year-old Ball State alumnus, fulfill assorted needs he now has because of his illness, Craig Johnson, friend and supervisor for residence hall maintenance, said.
About 25 people bowled in teams of four or five to win one of three trophies presented at the end of the tournament. The members of the first place team also received shirts commemorating the tournament.
Johnson said about $250 was raised Sunday.
While attending Ball State, Dennis worked as a student maintenance worker, Johnson said. After his graduation in 2005, Dennis worked as a part-time maintenance worker, Johnson said.
Since Dennis' diagnosis in January, he has progressed from experiencing dizziness while walking to being in a wheelchair with impaired speech, Johnson said.
Adolfo Solis, custodian and former co-worker of Dennis, helped plan the fund-raiser.
"We're doing this because Ball State is more than a nice institution and a nice school," Solis said. "We're a big family and we're building a stronger community," he said.
Proceeds from the bowling tournament were originally going to help Dennis pay for a wheelchair-accesible mobility van. However, Dennis' church, Union Chapel, sponsored a concert to help Dennis pay for a mobility van and achieved the goal. Subsequently, the money raised from the bowling tournament will help Dennis pay for other necessities, Johnson said.
"Chris has had a positive outlook through all this," Johnson said. "Others have been inspired by how he carried himself through adversity."
Dennis' outlook and enthusiasm for life inspired many of his co-workers, including Solis.
"His attitude and enthusiasm are amazing and he touched the hearts of many of us," Solis said.
Employees who had only met Dennis briefly attended the fund-raiser to offer support.
Veda Slaven, Ball State employee for 10 years, met Dennis during the summer as he was rotated between buildings.
"I only met him one time," Slaven said. "I hear he was a real nice guy, everybody liked him."
Bruce Morgan, director of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, helped the group put on the fund-raiser by allowing it to use Cardinal Lanes for free, Solis said.
Because other groups and organizations Dennis was part of were making efforts to raise money for him, Solis said he believed his co-workers and friends at Ball State should do the same.
"[Morgan] really gave us the opportunity to show that we care for each other and are a strong community here at Ball State," Solis said.
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