White River Nomads take to the greens to support charity
Bowls players from all over the Lowveld gathered for the last charity bowls match of the year.
The White River Bowls Club hosted a very special charity tournament on November 30. It was the Lowveld Nomads’ last match of the year and their last chance to raise funds for needy organisations before the Christmas season.
Nomads bowls is based on the same concept as golf, where players gather for tournaments and bring donations in the form of goods. It was started in East London in 1980 and more than 20 districts have been established since.
The Lowveld Nomads consists of members from the White River Bowls Club, Bungalows Bowling Club in Hazyview, LVCC, Lydenburg and Waterval Boven. They meet four to five times a year in order to raise funds to help charity organisations and institutions in the area that have a specific need.
During the Christmas Nomads’ tournament, 16 teams of three players took to the greens to see how they measure up against their opponents. The Nomads were asked to bring along back-to-school items and organisers were delighted with the large amount of calculators, school books and stationery that was donated. Some of these items, as well as R600 raised in the spider, were donated to an orphanage in Hazyview.
During the raffle, the Nomads collected R3 000, which will be used to buy items to donate to a charity or organisation in the area. Dennis Taiva was the lucky winner of the raffle prize.
Various other institutions have benefitted from the Nomads’ open wallets, like Ons Tuiste, an old-age home in Waterval Boven. Lowveld Nomads president Malcolm Tyerman said the pensioners battled financially and were in great need of basic toiletries like soap, washcloths and lotion.
School items like shoes, bags and stationery were also gathered and will be donated to the Nelspruit Community Forum to help families they support to start the year with smiles.
Tyerman said the weather was great and players had a wonderful time, with some even dressing according to the Christmas theme. Prizes were handed out for the best players and the winners of the sessions. The overall winners were Ellen Gold (best lead), Arnold Storkey (best second) and Fanie Nel (best skip).
The next Nomads event will take place around Valentine’s Day and all interested players are welcome to attend. If you are interested in joining this great cause, contact Tyerman on mtyerman@vodamail.co.za
View a gallery of the event here.
