The Beacon tenpin bowling players, played for a staggering 12 hours at Tenpin Dudley in Castlegate Park to help raise vital funds for the bowling team.
The challenge involved 30 visually impaired players from Beacons award winning bowling team who played non-stop with staff from Tenpin Dudley who also joined in. Players raised sponsorship funds from their local communities to help support their expansion and their efforts next season – raising a grand total of £2,500.
Team Captain, Ranjit Boparai, said: “This was a huge effort and although my arms hurt it was all worth it at the end when we realised what we raised. We would like to thank all those involved and give a special thank you to Tenpin Dudley for donating the lane time and their staff for helping support this mammoth challenge.”
The Beacon Community Sports programme helps many people learn new skills, pick up a new hobby and socialise in their community. The funds from this event will go a long away and help Beacon expand its efforts to support even more visually impaired bowling players.
Beacon CEO, Lisa Cowley, said: “We are very grateful to all those that helped organise this event and everyone who sponsored the players. Playing sports like bowling is something we all take for granted but imagine living with sight loss and trying to play your favourite sport. For many people living with a visual impairment this is a reality and we at Beacon are here to support and guide them with our experience and knowledge.”
Beacons Tenpin bowling team has also reached the national finals which will be held in May and will involve players from across the country competing for the prestigious title of national champions.
Ranjit added: “Without the support of the local community it would be very hard to reach our goals. Living with sight loss has a knock-on effect on many aspects of your life including social isolation. Sports such as bowling is more than just about learning a new skill. It helps you meet and integrating with the community and help you open up more – it’s made a huge difference to many peoples lives.”