July 9, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State football program is inviting the public to help former teammate Travis Brown defray medical costs from his bout with Aplastic Anemia by joining the Wildcats at a Bowl-A-Thon and autograph session at Zuckey Bowl in Manhattan on Sunday, July 13.

The event, which begins at 4:45 p.m., will open with a short educational discussion about the ailment and its effects given by K-State team physician Dr. Doug Hinkin. A team bowling session will follow from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Players will then sign autographs for donations to benefit Brown starting at 6 p.m.

Brown, a four-year letterman at K-State from 1999-2002, was a 2002 third-team All-Big 12 selection by the league's coaches and an honorable mention All-Big 12 honoree by the Associated Press. As a senior he averaged 42.4 yards per punt during the regular season. Eight of Brown's punts traveled in excess of 50 yards, including a career-long 66 yarder vs. USC. He also placed 14 punts inside the 20-yard-line during the 2002 regular season.

A Shawnee Mission West High School product and native of Overland Park, Kan., Brown began noticing the effects of the ailment in May and had been hospitalized at St. Luke's Cancer Institute in Kansas City until recently being alowed to go home. He received a stem cell transplant from his older sister, Shelby, on May 27 to help fight the rare disease in which bone marrow fails to produce blood cells. According to his doctors, Brown has been recovering steadily since receiving the transplant and is seen a marked improvement in his blood cell counts.

Zuckey Bowl is located at 515 Richards Drive across from the Holiday Inn off of Fort Riley Blvd. in Manhattan. For directions please contact Zuckey Bowl at 785-539-0371.