Plans well underway for long-established boating event.
Competitive corporates looking to take part in the 2018 Dragonboat Race at Brindleyplace, part of a new Family Festival for the first time this year, will have to be quick with over half the boats already filled by businesses wanting to raise vital funds for blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia, and prove their paddling skills to the city.
Taking place on Saturday 16th June, 18 teams will race long the Birmingham and Worcester Canal at Brindleyplace in 20ft traditional Chinese longboats to compete in a series of heats. Businesses from across Birmingham, including teams from Deutsche Bank (the events headline sponsor for a seventh consecutive year), Birmingham City Football Club, GVA, CBRE and last year’s winners, Kind Consultancy, will take to the water in fancy dress, all in aid of Cure Leukaemia.
The established annual Dragonboat Race is just one of the activities that will now take place at the first ever Brindleyplace Family Festival which will include plenty of family-friendly entertainment, live music, activities with Birmingham City Football Club, street dancing and a family trail around the estate.
Nathan Sanghera, Marketing and Events Executive at Brindleyplace, said: “This year the Dragonboat Race will form part of a bigger event at Brindleyplace, our first Family Festival, so people will be able to cheer teams on by the canal as well as enjoying all of the activities and entertainment we’ve got planned. This isn’t one to miss, so get the date in your diary!
“At 19 years old, the Dragonboat Race is one of Birmingham’s most successful annual fundraising events and one that we’re incredibly proud to organise at Brindleyplace. It’s a big part of our Family Festival this year and all the money raised will to go towards the life-saving work carried out by Cure Leukaemia – we think it’s going to be our best year yet!
“Time is ticking if you want to be part of the race so if you’re going to sign up, you’ll have to be quick!”
Paul Anderson, head of Deutsche Bank’s Birmingham operation, headline sponsor of the Brindleyplace Family Festival said: “Cure Leukaemia is a fantastic charity and one that we’re proud to be supporting for the fourth time as part of the Brindleyplace Family Festival this year. The event is always one of the highlights in our corporate volunteering calendar and the Dragonboat Race element is the perfect opportunity for us to raise some money for a great cause and have some fun doing it – I just hope the Deutsche Bank team will be able to avoid last place and the Paddle of Pity!”
James Mclaughlin at Cure Leukaemia, added: “The money raised by the Brindleyplace event over the past three years has made a huge difference and, following the success of our £1 million Centre Appeal, the £3.4 million refurbishment of the Centre for Clinical Haematology is now complete at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
“Our work doesn’t stop there though and all the funds raised at this year’s Family Festival will directly help patients battling Leukaemia, offering hope through ground-breaking clinical trials and ultimately helping to save lives by funding more specialist research nurses.”
To find out more about the 2018 Dragonboat Race at the Brindleyplace Family Festival email [email protected] or visit www.brindleyplace.com.
