Sunbury residents are invited to lace up their shoes and head down to Club Sunbury Bowls for an inaugural tournament to raise money and bowl away mental health stigmas.
Bowl For Your Lives will be hosting the tournament on April 27, following the success of three tournaments across the state.
Co-founders Cam Ryan and Shane Hafner said it has grown into a massive movement and has even interested people interstate.
“The whole idea is to spark positive conversation and kill off a few stigmas,” Cam said. “We’re trying to be the middle ground and community level to break down those stigmas.
“We’re trying to attract not just bowlers but people who want to be a part of the day, listen to the talks and support the community.
“[Bowling] is very much a grounding technique, we found it was a [great] sport. The bowls community is the perfect supportive community.”
Cam and Shane first met in 2001 when they were in the police academy together. They have both since retired and are affected by PTSD.
When chatting, they agree their true calling is the work they are doing now.
“It feels like my policing career was just a setup for my real purpose, which is assisting people in mental health awareness,” Cam said.
In an honest and raw recounting, Cam details how bowling has and continues to personally help him with his struggles.
“I have recently come off medication and I broke down crying in front of a group of bowlers,” he said.
“I was in a crisis state and Club Sunbury embraced me, I played the game, it levelled me out and I left a different person than I started.
“I left laughing and that’s the impact bowling can have on you.”
Since 2022, Bowl For Your Lives has raised close to $48,000 by holding tournaments in various locations throughout Victoria.
Bowl For Your Lives Facebook: shorturl.at/aoHRY
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
