Annual Bowling for the Battle strikes out cancer

(ABC 6 News) – The Austin community came together for the annual Bowling for the Battle on Saturday at Echo Lanes.

All of the money raised goes toward The Hormel Institute’s prostate cancer research.

Former Gopher football player and five-time cancer survivor, Casey O’Brien, was the special guest speaker. A Gopher football helmet signed by O’Brien was actioned off and sold for $2,400.

"I didn’t know what to expect coming down here but to see that every single lane is full and people are having a good time and getting together. It gives me energy. It makes me excited. We’re doing great things for cancer today," O’Brien said.

O’Brien said this was his first time visiting Austin and he said it’s so great to see a small community coming together for cancer.

The total raised at this event over the past seven years is over $300,000.