BROADFORD’S 24-hour bowlathon went off with a bang as the community came together to raise money for cerebral palsy.
More than $8000 was raised for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, with Broadford Bowling Club welcoming a significant number of bowlers across Friday and Saturday, who took part in raffles and enjoyed entertainment and refreshments from event sponsors like Shearasun Brewing Company.
Club champion Dave Ellis said the event was a great success and welcomed people to bowl all day and night.
“The turnout was absolutely amazing. People from the town that popped in, all the people that sponsored us, the bowls members that came – it was just awesome,” he said.
“On Friday night, there were 14 of us bowling and when we came out to the green on Saturday it was absolutely full.
“It was a glorious day and people turned out in their hundreds … Katie had an absolute ball.”
The event, dubbed ‘Katie’s Cause’, was inspired by Katie, a woman with cerebral palsy who attended a barefoot bowls event in Broadford and caught the attention of club members after ‘coming out of her shell’ to play.
Katie put down the first bowl of the bowlathon event to kick off the activities, with some people even bowling for the full 24 hours – albeit with breaks in between.
On-site on day two were also former bowls number one Steven Glasson and AFL All-Australian Lance Whitnall, who shared stories while participants took a lunch break and took part in the raffle.
“I was absolutely overwhelmed with the turnout and how much was raised for cerebral palsy,” Mr Ellis said.
“I’d like to thank every sponsor that we had and everyone that turned up has spoken to me about it, and said they had an absolute ball and it was the best thing they’d done.
Mr Ellis also thanked everyone who was involved in preparing lunch, organising and assisting throughout the event.
