Playing bowls is more than just a past time for a lot of the community, and for Merimbula’s Ricky Holt the game has taken on a whole different meaning.
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Holt was at the Orange City Bowling Club on Friday as part of his 50 for 50 Bowls campaign, which is raising money for cystic fibrosis (CF) and autism.
Holt is in the middle of playing bowls for 50 days straight at 50 different clubs across New South Wales, taking himself, his van, a swag and a deck chair along for the ride.
Orange City was stop 34.
“I’ve been everywhere,” Holt smiles, stops including South Tweed, Armidale, Dubbo, Forbes, various clubs in Sydney and Young this Monday.
“I started at home at Merimbula on October 8 and I’ll finish up in Albury on November 26.”
Holt has raised close to $40,000 so far, with the goal being $100,000, towards finding a cure for CF, which directly affects his family.
Holt’s niece died 12 years ago at the age of 26 from CF, while his younger brother has three children, two have CF and two suffer from autism.
“That’s basically why I’m doing this. Raising funds to one day get a cure,” he said.
“The reception from the bowling community has been incredible. I’m travelling around with a swag and a deck chair and that’s me.”
He’s expecting to go close, with a number of large fundraising events organised for late in the tour, while his bowls are currently being bid on, with the figure sitting at $4000.
He says the reception from the bowling community has been overwhelming.
“I’ve probably had 12 or so club members at different towns offer me a bed to sleep in and at one stop, the resident’s wife offered to wash my clothes for me, which was awesome.”
For more information or to donate to Holt’s cause, http://50for50bowls.com/