MND Superchallenge returns to the green

A GRASSROOTS fundraising effort for motor neurone disease in honour of the late Dennis Gleeson will make its return to Heathcote Bowling Club this 26 January.

The event, known as the Dennis Gleeson MND Superchallenge, is now in its seventh year and includes a unique triples bowls tournament, huge raffle, and charity auction.

Co-organiser Peter Cunningham said the effort was part of remembering a great mate and helping support others with the disease that took Mr Gleeson too soon.

“In 2015 Dennis was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, it was October,” he said. “On New Year’s Eve three of us from the Heathcote Bowling Club, and with our wives, went to the Commercial Hotel and said, okay, what are we going to do?

“Twenty-six days later we held a 24-hour bowls marathon and raised just over $22,000.”

Next year, as part of the Dennis Gleeson MND Superchallenge, the bowls tournament includes a unique structure to the play, with the skip, lead and second all rotating, and the number of bowls rolled taking a two-four-two configuration.

Mr Cunningham said the order and number of bowls send down the green had special meaning.

“Two-for-two was the slogan MND used,” he said. “Every two days someone is diagnosed with MND in Victoria, and every two days someone dies from MND in Victoria.

“In our format we change every game, so everybody gets a turn to bowl as a skip, lead or second.”

As part of the day a large raffle will be drawn with prizes including bikes, tools, a barbecue, and meat vouchers up for grabs.

The offerings have been made available thanks to the support of local and Bendigo businesses like Giant Bikes, Todd Property, Total Tools and McIvor Meats, and Mr Cunningham said it was gratifying to have the support of the community.

“It’s absolutely brilliant,” he said. “It’s phenomenal.”

The Dennis Gleeson MND Superchallenge takes to the greens at the Heathcote Bowling Club on Thursday, 26 January.

Tickets for the raffle are $5 each and can be purchased at Fodder, the Oval Café or by calling 0418 304 259.

Money raised goes to MND Victoria to support people affected by the disease.