A Pambula Beach resident has embarked on an eight week journey in an effort to raise $100,000 for a charity close to his heart.
Ricky Holt has been fundraising “forever” with his main efforts going towards Cystic Fibrosis and Autism.
Mr Holt’s youngest brother has three children aged five, nine and 15. The oldest boy Wilson has Autism, the baby girl, Teilyn, has Cystic Fibrosis and the second boy, Cullen, lives with Cystic Fibrosis and Autism.
“Unfortunately, Cullen is seeing the effects of both. Having just one child with Cystic Fibrosis or Autism is hard for a family but to have three is really challenging,” he said. “As you can imagine life for these guys can be very difficult with many hospital visits, special schools and constant medications to cater for their needs.”
Mr Holt also had a niece with Cystic Fibrosis who passed away eight years ago at only 26 years old.
“Five years ago I decided I had to do something to help, my family lives in Wodonga so this is my way of helping them and other families like theirs,” Mr Holt said.
He started up the charity Rainbows and Roses, a foundation helping and raising awareness for families whom have children with Cystic Fibrosis and Autism and assisting with medical costs and the travel and accommodation costs involved in getting treatment.
In the past five years Mr Holt has raised more than $100,000 for Rainbows and Roses. Now he is trying to equal that amount in just eight weeks.
On Saturday, October 8, Mr Holt was joined by 80 other bowlers for day one of his quest to play a game of bowls at 50 clubs throughout NSW on 50 consecutive days, an endeavour that will see him travel more than 6,600 kilometres, going as far north as Tweed Heads and finishing on November 26 in Albury.
Each bowling club on his journey has organised an event to help raise funds, with the goal of raising $2,000 at each location.
To help in his fundraising efforts, Mr Holt has had some one of a kind bowls made up by Drakes Pride, one for Cystic Fibrosis and one Rainbows and Roses to auction off as well as a number of bowls that were beautifully decorated by kids at Pambula Public School and Eden Public School that he will sell off and auction to raise more money.
Mr Holt thanked all the individuals and businesses who sponsored him and made this journey possible.
RELATED LINKS
