DISABILITY BOWLS ENGLAND……NEEDS YOU!
Do you like a challenge? Could you make a positive difference to the sport we love? Could you help raise funds for the Disability Bowls England charity trust?
Join our team of DBE Buddies. The Buddies will enter a number of the thousands of fundraising events up and down the country be it a local 5k or 10k fun run or walk, the great north or south run or maybe the London Marathon, you could also enter Ride London or the London to Brighton cycle ride or take on a swimathon, great north swim or swim serpentine the list is endless maybe do all three and take on a triathlon???
We are always looking for local fun events to take part in, that would help us to showcase DBE to a wider audience. “Bowls A Sport for All”
Our fundraising coordinator is here to help you to market your events, DBE has a virgin money fundraising page ready and waiting – any money raised will be used to grow the charity trust enabling us to introduce disability bowls to a much wider audience.
Please contact info@disabilitybowlsengland.org.uk for more information.
Thanks in advance for your support!
The Story so far – Our First Two Bowls Buddies 2020
2 bored bowlers, Michelle Coleman & John Rednall, who haven’t been able to play the sport they love during lockdown have ‘buddied’ up to raise funds for Disability Bowls England by challenging themselves to run 250k between them in August. John clocked a total of 161.34km and Michelle has clocked another 100.1km. (Total 262.35km – 163 miles, 30 yards)
Michelle Coleman:
After completing c25k during lockdown, I wanted a new challenge, something to keep me motivated to carry on with my running. What better way to do this by raising money for the sport that I love, the sport that has been such a huge part of my life – Bowls! My challenge is to complete 100k in August. One of the reasons that I love bowls so much is how inclusive it is, and how it can be enjoyed at so many levels. The talent and skill that the disabled bowlers have is truly inspiring to me.
John Rednall:
John is a current international and last season became England’s longest-serving player, having played in the men’s senior team for 31 years, earning his 100th cap. He has also represented England in Commonwealth Games and World Championships. John is delighted to be raising funds for Disability Bowls England as it’s a very worthy cause, and considers bowls to be the best and most accessible sport there is: a sport for everyone.
DBE Buddies 2021
Edward Morris (DBE Cycling Buddy from Essex County Bowling Club Cadets)
Our Club has always been a very keen supporter of disabled bowling, with wheelchair bowling sessions all year round on Thursday or Friday mornings. I also regularly preach the inclusivity of the game to prospective new members. All of that, along with the fact that disability bowls is growing in stature and yet not receiving any central funding in the run up to a large Commonwealth Games programme led me to want to fundraise for yourselves. I preferred the idea of fundraising for a charity within bowls and also to one that could really feel the benefit of it, as opposed to a huge national charity where my efforts would be just a drop in the ocean. I still had the idea of fundraising for DBE floating around in the back of my head and came up with the idea of a tour around my local Clubs. The route I planned was almost exactly 100km so it seemed destined to happen to me from that point onward.
I ramped up my training and eventually set out for my ride on 13th April. I deliberately picked a day with excellent weather so the ride was very enjoyable indeed until about 40 miles in where I had to tackle a large hill, the legs hurt from that point onwards and I was in survival mode! 100km might not be a lot to some but before I started training my longest ride ever was probably only about 10km, and my longest training ride was 30km, so it definitely hurt a lot towards the end! I completed the ride in a fraction over 5 hours of moving time and celebrated with a pint as the pubs had reopened the previous day – a happy coincidence!
Emily Ferguson (DBE Running Buddy from Appleyard BC, Kent)
I first started bowling when I was 10 years old, after my grandparents introduced my brother and I to the sport. I soon became hooked and have been ever since! I have been a junior international since 2017 and I was selected for my first senior call up in 2019. I’ve always aspired to complete the London marathon With how difficult the past year has been I’m looking forward to channelling my energy and free time into training and focusing on something positive – the fact that I will be completing a marathon this year and helping to raise money for such a worthwhile cause. Bowls has been such a big part of my life for a long time now and running on behalf of DBE provides the opportunity to give something back to the sport. Bowls is a sport for all, all ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities and more should be done to promote this. I hope the money raised will help continue to shine a spotlight on this amazing, and often overlooked, sport and help provide support to those who need it. I look forward to seeing how the fundraising helps those on an individual level, as well as facilitating events and competitions.
Robbie Barker (DBE Running Buddy from St Neots BC, Cambridgeshire)
I started playing when I was 6 after going to watch my grandad play several indoor and outdoor games and he introduced me and my 5 brothers Jamie, Adam, George, and Ben to the game and 21 years later I’m still hooked by the game and love every season at my club St. Neots BC. Fitness is my life the last 4 years after I suffered a small heart scare, I have put a lot of time into losing 12 stone and becoming stronger and fitter and completing this marathon will be a big step forward and a challenge I cannot wait to start. Ever since I started my fitness journey a marathon has always been on the list to complete. I’m looking forward to the challenge and putting all my time and effort into being 100% ready and giving my all so I enjoy the experience. When DBE approached me to represent them in the marathon, I was honoured that they thought of me, and I can’t wait to represent them and hopefully we can raise some amazing money for them a chance to help is something I could not turn down. Also competing in this marathon is away for me to give something back to the sport that I love. I can’t wait to see how the fundraising will help the individuals as well as the events and competitions.