A BALNARRING cricketer had his son at front of mind when he chased down Don Bradman’s run tally last Friday.
Alex Wadelton, a passionate runner and cricket tragic, ran nearly 7000 lengths of the pitch at Balnarring Recreation Reserve in 24 hours. He surpassed the number of runs scored by the legendary Don Bradman during his Test Cricket career.
Wadelton, who was kitted out in full cricket gear, was raising money for the National Allergy Centre of Excellence at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The cause is one close to his heart – Wadelton’s 15-year-old son Roarke suffers from life-threatening allergies.
“This came about because I wanted to raise money for anaphylaxis research. My son has allergies to wheat, barley, and nuts – he has endured about eight epipens that have saved his life. There is currently no cure,” Wadelton said. “We both play for Balnarring Cricket Club, and we play in a team together. While we were playing I thought about what I could do to raise money and get people interested.”
Roarke Wadelton helped his father get going by bowling the first ball to him on Friday. “He’s going to bowl the first ball and keep score. He’s got a good inswinger so hopefully I keep it out of the gate,” Wadelton said before his run chase got started. “Cricket is a safe space for him, where he can hang out with his mates outdoors without worries.”
Wadelton is aiming to raise $20,000. To donate visit: recordrunchase.com
First published in the Mornington News – 8 October 2024
