Essex award winner and International Disability Bowls Champion, Daniel Adams, has continued to inspire us all here at Active Essex with his incredible achievements. Daniel is one of our All Together ambassadors and has recently embarked on a new challenge to raise money and awareness for Disability Bowls England (DBE).
Inspired by the late Sir Captain Tom Moore and his incredible achievements, Daniel has embarked on his own personal challenge: to walk over 134 miles over 22 days around Harlow. He hoped to raise money for DBE to help support the charity who have been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has so far smashed his personal target by walking a massive 221.37 miles and raising over a thousand pounds for the charity.
He is also walking in memory of his wonderful mum, who sadly passed away this year. He told Bowls International: “I started doing this to take things off my mind, due to my mum being unwell and my struggles through this pandemic but also to help Disability Bowls England, a great charity that has helped me and other fantastic bowlers to reach international level.”
Daniel, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and learning difficulties, started playing bowls at Tye Green IBC at the age of 18 and outdoors at The Griffin Club in Harlow at the age of 20. It was a nervous start for him, but with the support of his parents and then captain, John Barwick, playing the sport has helped his confidence to flourish – reaching Captain status for The Griffin Club’s Men’s Team for two years running and taking part in (and winning!) national and international competitions.
Daniel said: “I represented England in the first ever learning disabilities indoor bowls international series in Scotland which England won. It came down to the last end of the match on my rink I drew in the winning bowl to win the series.”
In the same year of 2019, Daniel received the Active Harlow ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ Award for his outstanding sporting accomplishments. He has since achieved a Level 1 coaching certificate to help others, inspired by the support he received from his coaches.
He is also an ambassador for Active Essex’s All Together Campaign – encouraging residents in Essex who have disabilities and long term health conditions (LTHC’s) to reclaim and take part in sporting activities across the county.
Despite 70% of people living with a disability or LTHC wanting to increase their activity levels, they are still twice as likely to be inactive compared to those who aren’t facing these barriers. All Together is a growing community of inspiring people who believe that this can change. Our incredible ambassadors, like Daniel, support and influence those around them to take part in sports, whilst promoting the benefits of moving more and the opportunities available for them to do this across the county.
Not knowing when he’ll be back on the lawn, Daniel is hoping these walks will keep him going until he can play again for himself and for his mum. He told Bowls International: “From now, every win will be for my mum. She was always next to me, cheering me on in every match.” He added: “My mum once said ‘My inspirational athletes are the ones with disabilities.’ And she is right.”
We at Active Essex would like to wish Daniel the very best of luck with his fundraising and his stellar bowling career, along with a huge ‘Thank You’ for all his incredible work in inspiring those around him.
If you wish to support Daniel on his journey, you can donate to his fundraiser page here and follow him on Twitter here.
