Strike at Cancer grew from an idea for a single fundraising event, as a way for the family and friends of Mary Weigand to pay tribute to her in the wake of her 10-year battle with breast cancer, and as a way to do something positive for others like her. One of Mary's sons, working with a friend whose father also had cancer, developed the idea for a bowling tournament fundraiser, since both parents were bowlers. This simple idea grew into the Strike at Cancer Foundation. What follows is the story of how an individual, a pair of friends, a family, a community, all came together in celebration to make a difference in the lives of the people around them.

The Foundation is dedicated to the memory of Mary L. Weigand.

3-year old Lucas Wesoloski, soon after his diagnosis with leukemia.

The Weigand family has had a lot of experience with cancer. Mary Weigand lost her battle with cancer soon after that first fundraiser. While planning the third annual fundraising event, her son Rick discovered that he had developed testicular cancer at the age of 42. Two years later, Mary's 3-year-old grandchild, Lucas Wesoloski, was diagnosed with leukemia. Mary's daughter Melody, a certified oncology social worker and Foundation board member, never imagined that her own child would also be her most important patient. Through each of these encounters with cancer, our understanding of what it takes to cope with this disease grew. And so we created the Foundation as a means to share this understanding and to support other families like ours.

	The Weigand clan celebrates a fiesta with mom Mary (center), just one month prior to her death from breast cancer. Board president Rick Weigand (behind Mary) was diagnosed with cancer two years later. Grandson Lucas (baby fourth from left) was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3.