The year 2023 is full of Drenthe winners. From ACV from Assen that becomes champion in the third division or SVBO from Barger-Oosterveld that wins the Protos Weering indoor football tournament for the first time. In addition to football, sisters Daphne and Sabine Spreen from Rolde also won honorary medals at the World Cup obstacle run. Or what about the Special Media Award, which goes to Judith Ros from Borger for her YouTube channel.
It is a list that is almost never complete, but we also look specifically at the Phihezo Sports and Games Foundation from Hoogeveen. The volunteers of this foundation win ‘The Compliment of Drenthe’.
“That was cheering, that was great,” Gerda Longbottom remembers. She is the bowling coordinator at the foundation. Phiheza wants to help people with intellectual or visual disabilities to exercise or play games. She does this with about 130 volunteers. “It wouldn’t be possible without volunteers. Some clients cannot yet climb the two steps of the stairs independently. So I am also very happy with my volunteers.”
In addition to bowling, volunteers also participate in swimming, gymnastics and walking. Volunteer Arend Steenbergen is one of the fifteen volunteers who help with bowling. “I do a lot of volunteer work, but this is very unique. The fact that we also go bowling with blind people is wonderful. You can see it for yourself, people enjoy it here.”
The volunteers also help place and align a rack from which the bowling ball can be pushed. This helps people who cannot throw the ball. “People are getting older, more and more people need such a rack,” Gerda explains.
‘The Compliment of Drenthe’ also comes with an amount of 3,000 euros. This includes purchasing a bowling rack. “And that’s easy,” Gerda laughs.