BOWLS
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CLUB Dubbo will be the place to be this Saturday when the Men of League Foundation hosts a charity lawn bowls day for an extremely special cause.
The bowls will be a purely social event and people are asked to wear their footy colours and take part to help raise funds for Dunedoo 12-year-old Jamieson Leeson, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy.
Leeson is confined to a wheelchair and the day will help raise money for a wheelchair-accessible van for the massive rugby league fan.
A passionate Manly supporter, Jamieson will be thrilled by the news former Sea Eagle and Australian prop Josh Perry will be in attendance, as well as fellow NRL player Ben Ross and radio presenter Graeme Hughes.
Jamieson’s mother Amanda has been involved with the Dunedoo Swans for a number of years while she also assisted Dubbo CYMS last season and she confessed she has been amazed by the Men of League’s assistance.
“It’s just such a great community the football community the way they’ve got behind Jamieson and our family,” she said.
“It’s very hard living in a small community but to see how they’ve got behind us, we’ve got no family around us so it’s amazing how they’ve adopted us.”
Men of League’s Martin Cook said the Foundation had no hesitation in helping out the Leeson family.
Men of League have helped numerous families who have some sort of connection with the sport and a similar event for Leeson was held in her home town recently and the aim this time is to be even bigger and better.
“There’s no better cause than to help someone in need and we had a fantastic day in Dunedoo a fortnight ago and raised close to $12,000 and we’re looking to get close to the $18-20,000 mark to help purchase a wheelchair-accessible van for Jamieson,” Cook said, before praising the work of the Men of League and NRL.
“I think there’s more than 20 local committees and this event has been run by the Men of League Western Region and the NRL have paid for all the administration and operating costs so 100 per cent of what is raised goes to the cause so for people coming along on Saturday should know everything raised, none go to wages or any other costs, it goes to what is needed.”
Some great prizes will be on offer as well as the chance to take part in the fun of social bowls.
A cricket bat signed by former Australian captain Steve Waugh is one of those prizes which will be up for auction.
People are asked to wear football jerseys to brighten the day up even more and a huge crowd is expected on the greens on Saturday.
“I’m a keen bowler so I’m keen to get out there and have a roll and enjoy the community spirit and it will be great to see everyone turn up,” Amanda Leeson said.
The day will begin 9am with a breakfast of egg and bacon rolls, followed by the bowls at 10am.
A lunch will also be on offer before the day wraps up at 3pm.
Anyone seeking more information can contact Club Dubbo (6884 3000), or the Western Region Men of League officials, Martin Cook, Ross Tighe and Michael Quade.