Otley Santas to play bowls for MND

Two West-Yorkshire bowling clubs are taking on MND with a charity match but with a twist.

Wharfemeadows Bowling Club will host the match between themselves and Rawdon Park Bowling Club, where you may see people dressed as Santa competing, this Thursday.

This is part of a motor neurone disease fundraiser which aims to raise £2,500 for the Rob Burrow Centre for MND. The amount matching the price of a text box which allows someone suffering with the disease the ability to speak. With 80% of people with MND suffering some form of speech loss.

This is coming after, one of the members of Wharfemeadows Bowling Club was diagnosed with the disease. An estimated figure says that 2 in every 100,000 people suffer from motor neurone disease.

Over 40 players will be competing however, it has been touted by the Captain of Rawdon Park Bowling Club, that many of their best players are not in attendance.

Source: Gerald Harper

Ray Weldrand, a Captain at Rawdon Park Bowling Club, he said.

‘I have a history of fundraising which is likely why Gerry – Gerald Harper, the organiser – selected us. I worked with auctions for another Rugby player who suffered with motor neurone disease, Doddie Weir. Who as a fellow Scottish man I loved’

‘I find that people are a lot more generous when the charity has a big name attached like Rob Burrow and definitely when they are having fun which I tried to do with those auctions and will definitely be the case with this event too.’

‘I knew the guy at Wharfemeadows who has MND beforehand and it just breaks your heart how much damage it can do in two years. I think what would shock most people is how aware you can still be with the disease which he is. I have seen it where they lose that awareness before too. To a family friend who tragically died of the disease in the end.’

‘Charity is the most important part but I still want to win. this game is the first towards the trophy and I want our name on the plaque not theirs. It will be difficult as some of our best players are busy with other engagements’

Gerald Harper, the event organiser,

‘I’ve been a Leeds Rhinos fan my whole life and Rob Burrow was one of my favourite players. His long struggle with the disease before he died made me aware of it but what called me to get this fundraiser together was one of our bowlers who was diagnosed just after he retired from work.’

‘We wanted to raise awareness for people who suffer with the disease but also for their loved ones and how challenging it is for them.’

‘The Christmas theme came about for exactly this, publicity. We wanted to attracted the medias attention with an odd decision like this but also our bowls club unlike most you is visible for the public with a walkway. We hope people will walk past and want to see why Santa is playing bowls and hopefully donate.’

Go to Wharfemeadows Bowls Club, in Otley on Thursday the 25th to support.

Rawdon Park Bowls Club is still facing closure with the council only postponing the decision to close them down. While in the mean doubling the price of season tickets for the players.