A TWENTY20 cricket match will be played at Ballarat Grammar on Saturday, 2 February to raise funds for stroke patients and their affected families.<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Indians – the Lions – will play the Rest of Ballarat team \u2013 the Raiders – from 11:30am, belatedly celebrating India\u2019s Republic Day and Australia Day that share a date, January 26.<\/p>\n
A double wicket championship will run at 8am before the main match. The community is encouraged to put together their own teams and enter online.<\/p>\n
An initiative of the Friends of India Network – and this year, in collaboration with the Ballarat Health Foundation – the annual fundraiser also aims to strengthen ties and trust within Ballarat.<\/p>\n
FIN founder and president, Dr Sanjay Sharma\u2019s vision and mission is to integrate communities and build a \u201cTeam Ballarat\u201d atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two nations have one obsession \u2013 cricket,\u201d he said, and the network is looking forward to Ballarat families uniting, all with a love for the sport.<\/p>\n
There will be food trucks and entertainment for the community to enjoy while they relax and watch the sportsmanship at play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cricket will be followed by a dinner – catered by Peter Ford – and presentation evening at Ballarat Mechanics\u2019 Institute,\u201d Dr Sharma said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe anticipate more than 150 guests at the gala comprising of many eminent people and professionals from Ballarat and Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guests are encouraged to start arriving at 6.30pm for a 7pm start, to enjoy a program including key note addresses, live music and entertainment.<\/p>\n
Cricket memorabilia will be amongst many artefacts auctioned on the night.<\/p>\n
But, importantly, FIN\u2019s focus on stroke this year has been for a reason. It came after Dr Sharma\u2019s mother visited Ballarat from India.<\/p>\n
While she slept, she experienced a stroke, which wasn\u2019t discovered until five hours later.<\/p>\n
Having been touched so closely by the disease, Dr Sharma was inspired to direct FIN\u2019s fundraising efforts towards prevention of stroke and support for those affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt opened my eyes to all the figures,\u201d Dr Sharma said.<\/p>\n
\u201cStroke is known to affect one in six Australians in their life time. It kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer. Unfortunately, there is not that much funding and awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIN aims to bring together Ballarat residents of Indian origin with the rest of the local community, to put back into the city together.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s fundraiser in conjunction with Ballarat Base Hospital raised $9000 for family violence support and prevention.<\/p>\n