Bowling Aid

Chef Michael Bowling is no stranger to hard work. As a child he was employed as a personal sous chef to his mother. With her support and consistent pushing Michael was able to, as a youth, discover his love for cooking. Putting the MB touch in every bite gained him the attention of the local newspaper in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. With that article, life for him in the culinary industry was shaping into something promising.

Over the course of several years Chef Michael would work at several restaurants and bistros. Under the tutelage of great mentors helping to developing his craft, Chef Bowling would redefine casual dining and open his own establishment. The Bistro at Campbell would prove to be a success, combining southern cooking with fine dining in a twist that would tell many stories through food. Set to push the envelope and set the tone for others, he was ready to lead, teach and grow. But as fate would have it in 2006 his health would take a turn for the worst, serving up a gut punch that would last over a course of six years.

This gut punch would lead to kidney failure and ultimately a kidney transplant. Over time, Michael would experience a number of illnesses that would take a tole on his body and eventually leading to him having to be o dialysis. "A life without struggle is a life without pleasure, joy or growth. It is about the journey", says Chef Bowling. With this in mind and a journey ahead he continued to pursue his career as a chef. Quitting was not an option, he simply needed to tweak his plan.

With every journey comes change. A change of pace, a change of attitude, a change of heart and a change of location. Making a mark on the culinary industry Chef Michael decided that all of the above was necessary for his growth. Moving to Charlotte, North Carolina would be just the change he needed. In 2013 HotBox Next Level Kitchen Food Truck was birthed and a new phase of life for him had begun. However, health complications, along with mechanical issues, would come with another knock down punch. Causing the food truck to turn of its engine and park permanently, leaving him in search of, yet, another transplant and this one would not come easy.

Not willing to allow his health to get the better of him, Chef Michael, while on dialysis devised a plan to move forward with his dream of making a difference in the culinary industry. Simply succeeding in the industry would not be enough. He would structured his life in such a way that once a new donor was available he would be ready. Working with medical professional a strenuous regiment was set and life altering changes were being made. His health journey was coming together. On track to with his doctors, it was time to get everything else on track as well.

In November 2019, a partnership like no other in Jake Allen, Bart Roberts and Ford Craven; would form and HotBox Next Level Kitchen Concord would open inside of Southern Strain Brewing Company. As with every love story, tragedy would make its way into Chef Bowling's, but this time it not only affected him, it affected the world. COVID-19 struck the world hard and small businesses just as hard. With determination and a plan Chef Bowling was able to keep the doors to the restaurant open.

Fast forward to today, a donor has been found and processes are in place for another transplant to take place at the end of the year. The process is tedious and expensive. This is where you come in. There is a saying that goes, "Everything that is sown in good ground is reaped by a good harvest". (Knox) This Go Fund Me is being set up to aid in the expenses that will incur for both Michael Bowling and his donor. Every little bit will help. Nothing is too small.