Jennie Sandford would not change a thing about her bowls journey as she continues to play after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

The Haywards Heath native first took up the sport in the 1980s and after her MS diagnosis in 2018 had no fears about continuing to play.

She has since been selected to represent England in the Para Team for the 2023 World Championships in Australia.

“There wasn’t a worry about not being able to play bowls because I knew that even if you end up in a wheelchair you can still bowl,” said the 63-year-old, speaking ahead of Bowls’ Big Weekend 2024.

“Because the equipment is user-friendly on the greens so there wasn’t that thing of this is going to be the end of the bowls. 

“It is just frustrating because I keep thinking I could do this just a few years ago but I can’t anymore. 

“Now I have to bowl with a balance aid because otherwise I would fall over. 

“You can manage it so I know that I can keep bowling and I still do disability and para bowls and all the county and nationals as well.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world, especially having to give up other sports. 

“I used to play tennis and squash and they are now completely out of the question but I know I have always got bowls and however the MS causes the regression, I’ll still be able to bowl even if I have to bowl in a wheelchair, I will still do it.”

Sandford was speaking ahead of Bowls’ Big Weekend, partnered with Aviva, which sees over 560 clubs opening their greens from 24-27 May for newcomers to try out the sport.

Former driving instructor Sandford’s club Lindfield are not taking part in the initiative this year in part due to the club’s success at recruiting members in previous years of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Sandford will be representing England at the International Bowls for the Disabled World Championships in South Africa on the same weekend.

She added: “The year before I had last, with the disability side, I had gone to a couple of clubs that were partaking in the Bowls’ Big Weekend to promote the disability bowling side of it. 

“I then got our club to participate last year, this year we’re not involved because, it sounds big-headed, but we are nearly at capacity with our club and everybody wants to join us!

“We’ve got members from the Bowls Big Weekend in the past, with people bringing along friends and family members and they realise it is good fun and want to join the club.

“In the summer, it is a way of being outside, doing some exercise, even if it isn’t strenuous. It is also good for people’s mental health.

“And it is a very social game because you are meeting people not just from your club but you meet people when you do competitions.

“It doesn’t matter what level you want to play at, no one forces you to do things you don’t want to do.”

To find your nearest participating club and sign up for a free session go to bowlsbigweekend.com