The inclusivity of bowls has long been documented, as has the wonderful community the sport possesses.
Right at Home Emerging Para Jackaroo Annette Ruffle and her husband Rob are doing exceptional work in that space with their club of Heathmont organising the second ‘Bowl Parkinson’s Over’ day on October 22.
Speaking on Bowls Australia’s (BA) ‘Without Bias’ program, Ruffle discussed how proud she is of her husband, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease himself, in doing all he can to raise awareness for the cause.
“The first event last year had a terrific atmosphere, I’m so proud of my husband for stepping up and putting himself out there to raise awareness about Parkinson’s because it is about raising money to help with research and the future generation,” she said.
“So it might not help him so much, but it’s for a son or the grandson or the people in the future.
“We want to get the message out there so people can communicate, it’s a big community and 38 people are diagnosed every day so it’s quite prevalent and there’s a lot of young onset Parkinson’s, so it’s not all about old people.”
Ruffle, who just took part in her first National Development Series, labels bowls as the perfect community for inclusivity and one that gets behind any cause.
The Victorian and her husband knew that the club, it’s members and the wider bowling fraternity would throw their support behind the day.
“He just said, I want to do something to get the message out there and bowls is such a great community for everybody.
“No matter if you have a disability or don’t have a disability, whatever age you are, anybody can pick up a bowl and can learn how to bowl and it doesn’t matter what age you are.
“And when you’ve got Parkinson’s, the more you exercise, the more you’re going to slow the progression.”
See the flyer below for all the information on the day.
