From The Norwich Evening News

Anthony Nolan Trust Dragon Boat Regatta, Whitlingham Country Park, Sunday 24 July 2010

Norwich Dragon Boat Racing Thrills

Nearly 20,000 was raised for the Antony Nolan Trust when 14 teams took part in the ancient art of Dragon Boat racing at Whitlingham Broad, near Norwich.  The charity, which saves the lives of people with leukaemia, also recruited 38 new donors to its life-saving register.

Among those taking part in the race was a team from Costessey Carers and Costessey Medical Practice, where Denise Steward works.  Her step-son, Brandon Steward, 13, had a life-saving bone marrow transplant earlier this year, after the charity found him a bone marrow match.  The Taverham teenager said: “I'm doing fine and compared to last year I'm amazing.  “The trust is an amazing group and it saved my life and lots of other people's as well, and it could save more in the future.”

Each of the 14 teams taking part in the race had to have a minimum of 11 people on board and it cost £250 to enter a team.  The Costessey team raised the most individually, with £2650 out of the total £19,900 raised.  Mrs Steward said: “Without the trust Brandon would not be with us today.  “We are grateful for everybody taking part today and supporting us.”  Jan Hardinge, a member of the Costessey Carers' group and manager of the Costessey practice, said they planned to do the race again next year.  “We had a great day even though we all got soaking wet,” she said.

Yesterday's event was also an opportunity for the charity to get more donors on board.  Trust recruitment manager Charlotte Connolly said: “We recruited 38 donors onto the life-saving register which was really great. Any one of them could be the match to save someone's life.”  Sharon King, regional fundraising manager for trust, said: “Every year thousands of people with bone marrow diseases like leukaemia reach a stage when only a transplant can save their lives.  “At any one time there are over 16,000 patients worldwide, many of them children and young adults, who are rely-ing on Anthony Nolan to give them hope by finding them a suitable bone marrow donor from our register potential life-saving donors.”

In the UK Dragon Boat racing has become a popular, addictive and exhilarating team event where the drummer beats out a rhythm for the team to race the 30 ft Hong Kong style Dragon Boats.

To become a donor you must be aged 18 to 40, in general good health and must weigh over 8st/ 51kg. For more information about the work of Anthony Nolan visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk.

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From The Maidenhead Advertiser

The Marlow Regatta, Sunday 14th June 2008

A splashing time at Marlow's regatta

The riverside came alive this weekend when thousands of people flocked to its banks for the Marlow Town Regatta and Festival (MTRF).  Champagne and Pimms were quaffed by the crowds as they enjoyed the skill of the rowers and the antics of the dragon boat races.

 

The two-day extravaganza of races, music and socialising offers a more light-hearted event ahead of this weekend’s more competitive regatta in Dorney.

On Saturday MTRF joint presidents Sir Steve and Lady Redgrave opened the event and a smartly dressed crowd turned out at Higginson Park to watch more than 170 races, organised by the Marlow Rowing Club.

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From The Northern Echo

Deloitte Dragon Boat Regatta, Saturday 19 July 2008

Dragon boat racers competing for charity

DRAGON boat racing has been taking place on the River Wear in Durham to raise money for charity today.

Councils and businesses from the North-East have brought teams together to compete against each other.

Each dragon boat has ten paddlers, a drummer keeping time and a helmsman steering. Two boats race over a 250 metre course on the river beside Durham Rowing Club and the crews with the best times go through to the next round, finishing with a race off between the two fastest teams. None of the participants are experienced dragon boat sailors.

It is hoped the event with raise £15,000 for children's cancer charities.

David Harker, a partner at Deloitte, which co-ordinates the event, said: "This is a great opportunity for the private sector and the public sector to get together and do something for a really good cause.”I know people personally who have been affected by children's cancer and this is a chance for us to do something to help.

"We're aiming to raise about £15,000 sponsorship which we hope will make a real difference."

North of England Children's Cancer Research (NECCR) was formed in 1979 by a group of parents whose lives had been changed forever by childhood cancer. It raises money to enable vital research into the causes and treatment of childhood cancer. The charity has helped to establish the north of England as a world leader in research and treatment and supports a team of doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. 

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From The Lincolnshire Echo

The Lincolnshire Co-Op Dragon Boat Regatta, Sunday 20 July 2008

Festival turns out to be a real ‘Splasher’

Dragons, street dancers and crowds of people made their way to the Lincoln Waterfront Festival.

Hundreds of people turned out to the event, which saw stalls and attractions from Germany, France, China, Australia and Poland.
The theme for this year's festival was Lincoln's twin towns - Neustadt in Germany, Tangshan in China, and Port Lincoln in Australia and Radomsko in Poland.
The weekend's attractions inspired by this theme included 'have a go' language sessions, aboriginal art workshops, Chinese dragon puppet making and flag making workshops.

The more intrepid festival-goers took to the water in one of the highlights of the event - dragon boat racing.
Thirteen teams made up from local businesses boarded traditional Chinese dragon boats and battled it out in the water to raise money for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.
After fighting through the heats on Sunday, the overall winners were the Waterside Warriors team from Siemens.
"We are expecting to have raised in the region of a few thousand pounds this weekend," said Sam Turner, membership and community manager for Lincolnshire Co-operative, who hosted the race.
"People have really enjoyed it this year."
As well as the dragons, visitors were also treated to displays of live dancing and street theatre.

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From Paddington News

The Paddington Waterside Partnership Dragon Boat Regatta, Thursday 19 June 2008

 

For the 6th year running PWP's Dragon Boat racing was a huge success, with over £10,000 being raised for local charities.  The 'Fastest Boat' prize was hotly contested by the 12 teams, with Merchant Square team to strong for Davy Process, piping them in the final by a couple of seconds.

The 'Best Dressed' title was also  close to call, with Cosmic from St Mary's taking the first prize for a huge effort of creating a team of Smurf's including blue faces, matching white hats and even a Papa Smurf!

The prize for the 'Most Money Raised' went to Kingfisher who raised a fantastic amount - over £1500 in total for Vital Regeneration.

The evening went well with CORE Organic supplying the food and venue for the prize giving where the weary yet satisfied teams gathered for post race celebrations.