Roll up, roll up! Excitement is mounting as the countdown is now well and truly on to an unique charity bowls match, due to take place next week. As reported previously, the match will feature members of Swansea Bowls - a popular online bowls community - against a team from Carmarthen Indoor Bowling Club.
Swansea Bowls, which has members from all over the country, came up with the idea of staging the match to raise funds for Children in Need. And the idea has proved so popular, that so far more than 30 of its members - many of them from Tenby and other local bowling clubs - have added their names to the growing list of those wanting to play.
Venue for the match (format for which has yet to be decided) is Carmarthen on Friday evening, November 17, with 'kick-off' scheduled for 6 pm. Various other fun and fund-raising activities are also being lined up for the event, including raffles and auctions, which organisers hope will literally see the money rolling in.
Indeed, many members have already donated a wide variety of items as prizes, including Commonwealth Games shirts, Welsh international shirts, World Championship winning shirts, badges, a set of bowls, bottles... and a cane high back chair (worth a lot of money!).
There will also be quizzes and competitions, while it seems that one brave (or foolish) player has also agreed to have his chest waxed for the cause! "We hope to raise loads on the night," said a spokesperson for Swansea Bowls. "Every penny makes a difference, but please, only donate what you can afford. Match tee-shirts, as a memento of the night, are also available for members taking part, with all profits from their sale going towards the appeal."
Target is £1,000, but thanks to a number of generous donations from members, local bowls clubs - and even a Swansea darts team! - the coffers have already been swelled to the tune of nearly £250, while Carmarthen County Council have kindly waived any green fees.
Members of the public can also show their support by making donations via a specially established page on the Swansea Bowls website, the address for which is: http://swanseabowls.proboards54.com/">http://swanseabowls.proboards54.com/ index.cgi And don't forget, every single penny given will be used to support disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. No administrative or promotional costs are paid out of the money raised by donations.
The charity match promises to be a great night for a good cause. Make sure you don't miss it.