A GROUP of Crown Green Bowlers will embark on a 280-mile walk to 14 different clubs in 14 counties in 14 days to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease and the Leeds-based Rob Burrow Centre.
The massive trek – which will also raise awareness of the condition – will begin at Stoke Prior Bowling Club in Bromsgrove on Sunday, September 4, with the first leg taking the group 14.5 miles to Dudley.
The organisers are also hoping to see Droitwich’s MND Warrior John Adams at Stoke Prior on Sunday and people are urged to head down to the club to show their support – the team will leave Stoke Prior at 10am, heading to Romsley and Hunnington Bowling Club.
Over the forthcoming fortnight, the team will journey through the Black Country, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Wales, Cheshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Lancashire and Merseyside, ending up at Fleetwood Bowling Club on September 17.
The event has been inspired by former England Rugby League captain Kevin Sinfield OBE who completed a 101-mile run in just 24 hours in honour of his former Leeds Rhinos team mate Rob Burrow, who himself is battling with MND.
Inspired by this, the team want to pull together the Bowls, Rugby League and MND communities, along with the general public from all corners of the UK, as they travel across much of England and Wales.
After seeking advice from Kevin Sinfield, he said of the challenge: “I was pleased to hear about plans for the Walkathon for MND Challenge.
“It’s wonderful what you are doing. We have to keep fighting. The MND and Rugby community will unite, once again, behind your huge effort.
“The MND community is full of sad, yet hugely inspiring stories. Keep up the magnificent work.”
In April 2016, Crown Green Bowls’ highly respected and popular ambassador, Mel Evans MBE, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Mel not only enjoyed a glittering playing career but was also one of the most successful organisers and administrators within the sport.
Such was Mel’s contribution to the sport, he was awarded the MBE for Services to Crown Green Bowls in 2013.
Mel’s personal battle with the disease was lost in July 2017 and since then Mel’s partner, Lynn Pritchatt, with the support of the Crown Green Bowling community, has pledged to ensure Mel’s legacy is kept alive through the ‘Mel Evans MBE Foundation’.
Each day’s walking will be followed by an evening fund-raising event at a host Bowling Club, as the group navigate their way up and across England and Wales.
Each host Club will offer a variety of fundraising activities for local communities to get involved in – from live music events, through various bowls events showcasing some of the top players within the sport, to a Pro-Am bowls match with players from Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club.
Throughout the journey, the team will be inviting members of the public to join them on sections of the walk (via registration), with the aim of raising as much awareness of both the event, and the disease, as possible.
Visit facebook.com/walkathonformnd or email us at [email protected] for more information and/or a registration link.
