DECATUR - Zach Ferguson knew, with confidence, that world records were safe when his Argenta-Oreana High School National Honor Society descended on Decatur's Pla-Mor Lanes on Sunday for the Easter Seals Central Illinois Bowl-a-Thon.

"I bowl but, well, it's been a while, it's been a while," confirmed the 17-year-old junior from Argenta. "But we do have some good players, and this is fun; and yeah, I think we'll come back here and hang out."

Rediscovering the joys of bowling was just one of the fringe benefits as the 14 honor society students joined more than 50 other teams of four bowling their hearts out for a good cause - swelling the coffers of Easter Seals. Sunday's 21st annual bowling event was expected to raise about $18,000 for the charity, which covers a 12-county area providing families with medical equipment, speech and physical therapy, a child care center, and services and summer programs for people with disabilities.

"The Bowl-a-Thon is our most consistent and one of our most satisfying fundraisers," said Jan Kelsheimer, 56, Easter Seals Central Illinois president. "So many people come out here and enjoy it, it's not a chore."

But there was one sad note: This year's event was dedicated to the memory of retired Decatur Police officer, avid bowler and long-time Bowl-a-Thon supporter Gordon Hannon, 66, who died in September. He was honored with a ceremony at Pla-Mor Lanes and remembered as a friend who would be missed. "He always had a special place in his heart for Easter Seals," added Kelsheimer.

And there were plenty of seasoned Bowl-a-Thon participants who could acknowledge Hannon and could look back on their own long records of service. Carol McGonigle was manning the silent auction table and reckoned she had taken part in the event every year as either a bowler or helper. She said Easter Seals had been there to assist with her son's medical care after he was born two months premature at 4 pounds, and she's never forgotten it.

"This is a way for me to pay them back," said McGonigle, 60, of Decatur. "Easter Seals is just an excellent organization that does so many things for the community."

Her son Bill is 33 now, stands 6-feet-5 at 270 pounds and is a Bloomington police officer.

Tony Reid can be reached at treid@herald-review.com or 421-7977.