Highlights
Introduction:
This Foundation was set up in memory of Mel Evans MBE who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. As a much loved father, grandfather, partner, friend and bowler who was responsible for bringing Crown Green Bowls back onto TV, we want this Foundation to become a lasting legacy to help those in society who are stricken by MND.
Mel was born to loving parents Doreen and Les on 12th June 1952. In his youth, Mel was a passionate cricket player and was talented enough to be given the opportunity to sign for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Mel however took a different path, working as an Auditor for Finning (UK) for over 40 years. Alongside his career, Mel developed a passion for playing Crown Green Bowls.
Crown Green Bowls became an integral part of Mel’s life. He played at the highest level, earning over 100 caps for his county of Staffordshire and playing in over 120 tournaments. He also worked tirelessly to bring the sport back to the mainstream audiences via terrestrial television. In recognition of his service to the sport, Mel was awarded his MBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours in 2012. A humble, quiet and unassuming man, Mel maintained that his MBE was as much for his sport as it was for him.
Importantly, Crown Green Bowls is also where Mel met his lifelong partner, Lynn. Lynn herself was a former England Ladies Number One player in her own right. The two were inseparable both on and off the green and were quite a formidable pairing in the sport.
In 2016, quite suddenly, Mel was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). As Mel had only just become a grandfather to baby Isabelle in 2015, this news was a terrible shock to the family.
The Mel Evans MBE Foundation was founded by Lynn as a lasting legacy for her beloved Mel. The Foundation is honoured to have amongst its Honorary Patrons former World Snooker Champion John Parrott MBE and Professor Dame Pamela Shaw.
The Foundation has two simple aims: to raise awareness of MND and to raise vitally needed research funding through delivery of a wide range of fundraising events/activities.
Raise Awareness
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a neurological condition which affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. MND affects a person’s arms and legs resulting in the need of a wheelchair whilst losing the ability to do basic things like wash, feed and dress yourself. It affects your ability to swallow food and drink which leads to the need of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostom (PEG) feeding tube, to maintain nutritional intake as swallowing becomes impossible.
Your voice is compromised and people are unable to talk meaning communicating is difficult. Breathing muscles are also affected, which leaves you relying on a ventilator to breathe. All these symptoms occur whilst your mind is unaffected.
We are passionate about raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease. To learn more about the research being funded, please visit the Mel Evans Foundation website.
Organise Events
Events with or without a bowling background to raise money for MND and the Mel Evans Foundation will be advertised in the BCGBA News & Updates section when they are available. Please support them where you can.
Alternatively if you want to organise an event dedicated to MND fundraising in the name of the Mel Evans Foundation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the charity, by clicking the Organise Events box to the right.
Raise Funds
The best, an most effective way of supporting is to donate today , in the name of one of our own.