SALEM – Jacob’s Heart, the Lisbon-based charity founded by Nicole and Chris Eells to honor the short life of their son Jacob, will hold its latest benefit this Saturday with “Bowling for Kids” at Hunt Club Lanes in Salem.

All proceeds of the event will help the charity which provides pediatric hospital patients with the gift of a book or a toy to make the ordeal of a hospital stay or even visit a little less scary.

“The bowling benefit will be raising money to buy stuffed animals for Akron Children’s Hospital in Boardman. They are running very low on them,” Nicole said. “Jacob’s Heart always focuses on the kids and we try to help in any way we can.”

Jacob would have turned 30 this year. He was born on April 17, 1995, and passed away on June 30 the same year. Born with a major heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome — the left side of his heart did not form — Jacob underwent a procedure to reconstruct the heart and reroute blood flow, allowing his single functioning ventricle to pump blood to both his body and lungs, but four weeks later, he passed away.

Nicole explained she started Jacob’s Heart as a way of keeping his memory alive. An employee at Akron Children’s Hospital, she became aware that the hospital gave toys and books to inpatients as well as outpatients who were there for lab work, testing, surgery or emergency room visits. Nicole decided to honor Jacob by creating a charity in his name that would help supply the hospital with the toys and books gifted to its patients.

The Bowling for Kids benefit begins at noon on Saturday at Hunt Club Lanes located at 188 Railroad St. in Salem for mixed couples bowling. The cost to participate is $50 per couple. A Chinese auction will also be held at the benefit.

To pre-register, call 330-271-9330 or 330-271-9668. Pre-registration can also be completed by messaging Jacob’s Heart facebook page, though bowlers will be also be welcomed the day of the event.

“You don’t have to call to register,” the charity said on social media. “Just show up, and if you don’t feel like bowling, come and check out our Chinese auction.”