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BENDIGO East's Brad Marron admits he thought he may have bitten off more than he could chew by putting his hand up to bowl for 24 hours straight this week.
But with plenty of support both on and off the green, at 5pm on Wednesday Marron completed his bowl-a-thon in a gruelling effort that has raised more than $13,000 for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Fund for bushfire relief, with that tally still growing with several auction items still open for bidding.
Marron bowled from 5pm Tuesday to 5pm Wednesday and says, apart from some chaffing, he felt surprisingly good after sending down his final bowl before being chaired off the green by East's Steve O'Connor and Rob Clough.
"24 hours is a big commitment and to be honest, I probably had a few doubts leading up as to whether I'd get there, but I took my breaks when I needed to, had plenty of changes of clothes to freshen up and just stuck to my guns to get through," an exhausted Marron said.
"The hardest part of it was probably the last hour just knowing that it was so close.
"Getting through the night was good... we had a bit of karaoke to keep us entertained and I had people with me all night, which was fantastic.
"If I didn't have people here supporting and bowling with me then I doubt I would have got through."
Marron set out aiming to raise $5000, but has smashed that target with the figure already more than $13,000 through a mix of donations, raffles, auctions and food/drink takings during the bowl-a-thon.
"The support has been incredible... every little bit helps," Marron said.
With his bowl-a-thon complete, it won't be long before Marron is back on the green, with Bendigo East set to take on South Bendigo in a top-of-the-ladder BBD weekend pennant clash at South on Friday night.
Reigning premier East sits on top, with South nipping at their heels in second position.
It will be the first match-up of the season between the two top sides after their earlier round three encounter was washed out.
"It's a big game Friday night at South and a great chance to see exactly where we're at against a really good side," said Marron, who also leads the BBD pennant skipper's ladder.
Pennant ladder:
Skipper's ladder
Every rink:
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