May 18 Cornhole Tournament to Raise Funds for Dana Farber

By Peggy Mill 

Franklin resident Peter Bower wanted to do something that is a celebration of life to honor his wife. Instead of hosting a walk or a run as a fundraiser, Bower wanted to host a good party. As he describes her, “she just loved to have fun.” 

Anyone who knew Stacey knows that she loved a good party. That is exactly why Bower chose to do a cornhole tournament. “Everyone has fun, and that’s what she would want.” 

On May 18 at noon, Bower is hosting the second annual Kick Cancer in the Cornhole Tournament to raise funds for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Looking back at how Dana Farber was so good to his family during his wife’s battle with Stage 4 Melanoma, all the funds from Bower’s fundraiser event go to adult cancer research at Dana Farber. Bower wants to pay it forward. “It’s my way of giving back so it will maybe help the next family that goes through this,” he says.

There will be games, raffle prizes, silent auction, food, and cornhole boards. Last year, there were two games, but this year the one game will be a bottle toss. 

If you get the ring toss on the bottle, you win a prize. Along with the one game and the different teams for cornhole, there will be a silent auction for an outdoor pizza oven. 

Under one of the tents, there will be a table of raffle baskets. Some of the raffle prizes will be beach theme or barbeque theme.  

At the time of publication, 10 baskets had been donated for the cornhole tournament, but Bower estimates that there will be up to 40 raffle baskets on the day of the event.  

Polar soda and Coca Cola are donating raffle baskets to Bower, who works at Roche Bros. in Millis, where he will purchase food for the event. Members of Stacey’s family will do the cooking.

Last year, word of the fundraiser was spread mostly through text or Facebook or email. Bower explains that those interested in the event have been friends of friends or friends of the Bower family. Keeping this in mind, Bower thought his house was the best place to host the cornhole tournament. 

“When they come to the house, they can feel her presence like she’s there,” Bower explains. Having the cornhole tournament at Bower’s house on Pond Street in Franklin is important to him, so that Stacey can be included as part of the event. 

The number of people attending the cornhole tournament is not a concern, he says. With a third of an acre at his house, he also has neighbors who are willing to help out. Knowing that the fundraiser is for Stacey, his neighbors on Pond Street are supportive.

Although Bower can get 1 or 2 more cornhole boards, he needs to have a final count of teams by May 6 so that he can know how many more cornhole boards he may need. If you want to support the Bower family and are not interested in playing cornhole, you are still welcome. 

Bower encourages people to come say hello and buy raffles. Last year, over 100 people came to Bower’s yard for the cornhole tournament and didn’t leave until 6 p.m. – even in the pouring rain. This year, he is hoping to exceed that number. 

At press time, twenty teams had signed up for cornhole, but there is still time to sign up. To register teams for the cornhole tournament, email Peter Bower at [email protected]. Entry is $10 per person and $50 per cornhole team, with kids free. The cornhole tournament will take place at the Bower home, 453 Pond Street in Franklin, MA.