LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office and parish Fire Department are hoping to strike out cancer one frame at a time.

The first responders have teamed up to host the inaugural Bowl for a Cure at 6 p.m. Sunday at Tangi Lanes, 1612 W. Thomas St. in Hammond.

Bowling fans and residents are also encouraged to participate in the bowling tournament. Organizers said there is room for 24 teams and spaces are filling up fast.

The best two teams from the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department will battle it out for No. 1, and the best two teams of residents will do the same.

To enter, residents must be at least 15 years old and summit entry forms by Friday.

The entry fee for a five-person team is $100, and all the proceeds go to Perry’s Posse, a local non-profit organization that helps River Region cancer patients.

Tanya Rocaforte started Perry’s Posse after her godchild died of leukemia in 2014.

“I was contacted by Allen Weber and Denise Bertrand with the Sheriff’s Office,” Rocaforte said. “They were doing their first annual battle of the badges, and they were looking for an organization to donate the funds to, a cancer organization. Allen, being familiar with Perry’s Posse, spoke with the Sheriff and the Sheriff thought it would be a good idea to give 100 percent of the proceeds to our non-profit organization.”

According to Rocaforte, Perry’s Posse helps local patients suffering from different types of cancers.

“We do as much as we can,” she said. “When we first get a name submitted to our organization, we send them a welcoming card with a check. Then we send out things for birthdays, it could be a gas card, a check, certificates, anything to make them feel better. We also send out gifts for Christmas and Easter. We try to do anything we can to ease their minds and help them forget about their illness.”

Rocaforte said it is overwhelming to organizers when community members and organizations consider them for donations.

“We also believe that when people participate in fundraisers, it’s their way of giving back to the people who are less fortunate than them,” she said. “People are busy, they work and have families and they aren’t able to do things like donate. In their hearts, they want to do it, but they are so busy. By donating to us, they are helping us help others.”

Capt. Allen Weber of the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office was asked to put together the fundraiser. According to Weber, he has bowled since he was 4.

“This will be our first annual bowling fundraiser and we hope to have one every year,” he said, adding the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department have been hosting fundraisers through baseball, softball and football for many years.

Weber believes there will be a good turnout Sunday. As of Monday, there were 17 teams signed up to participate. Along with the tournament, raffles and 50/50 giveaway are planned.

“I feel it’s a very good fundraiser to help cancer patients,” Weber said. “I’ve had people in my family who had cancer and struggled with it. My mother has struggled with breast cancer and so has my aunt. There is a little girl who lives down the street from me who has brain cancer. I know that this organization that we are going to give the money too will make sure that the people who are struggling get the help that they need.

Those who do not have a team but want to bowl or have questions, can contact Bertrand at d.simoneaux@stjohnsheriff.org or 985-359- 8753. Those interested in entering the tournament can send an entry form and fees to Perry’s Posse at P.O. Box 2053, Garyville, or email bowlforacure2015@gmail.com.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker