Last Chance to Enter!

Posted on 26th May 2016 by

Last chance to make a splash at the Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday 19th June!

With just a few weeks to go until Willen Lake in Milton Keynes reverberates to the sound of beating drums, there is still time to get your team together and join in the fun!

The Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary on Sunday 19th June and around half the teams that take part each year are new, so why not join them on the start line next month.

Sharron Thompson from Computacenter, explains why they are taking part, “Our mixed team of women and men will be made up of the staff who work in our Milton Keynes office where we have our largest UK call centre. The Dragon Boat Festival is a fantastic opportunity to bring everyone together for a team bonding experience and to provide a day out for the staff and their families. We make this a big event for our guys with a BBQ and fun and games for all”.

The teams who took part in last year’s Dragon Boat Festival raised a magnificent total of over £22,000 for official charity Age UK Milton Keynes. By entering a Silver team, Computacenter will be making a £500 donation directly to the Milton Keynes charity. This is a critical time for older people in our community. All funds raised by the crews will help this amazing local charity to provide vital services that reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness amongst some of the most vulnerable people in the borough.

The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided by the race organisers and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. No previous experience is needed to take part in the dragon boat racing, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm. Medals and trophies for the top three crews, top mixed crew and the ‘best dressed’ crew are up for grabs. The top fundraising crew will also receive a £300 voucher towards a celebratory meal at the Swan at Salford – a great incentive!

As well as the dragon boat racing, crews and their families will be able to enjoy a whole variety of bankside entertainment including a funfair, children’s activities, giant inflatables, food stalls - and even a special flypast by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight! The 2016 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival is supported by local community radio MKFM.

For further information and an entry form visit: www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/miltonkeynes or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718. For information about Age UK Milton Keynes visit www.ageukmiltonkeynes.org.uk or call 01908 550700

Fire Breathing Greyhounds

Posted on 5th May 2016 by

Dragon Boat Teams stick their oars in for Thorpe Hall Hospice!

With just over a month to go until the annual Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival, places are still available for budding paddlers.

Companies, clubs and organisations from across the region are getting their teams together ready to do battle on the waters of Peterborough Rowing Club, Thorpe Meadows on Saturday 11th June.

For some companies it’s the thrill of the competition that draws them to the event, for others it’s more about a fun day out for staff and the opportunity to raise vital funds for a fantastic local charity.

Last year, over £10,000 was raised for official charity Sue Ryder-Thorpe Hall Hospice by teams competing at the Dragon Boat Festival and there is a very special incentive to raise as much money as possible thanks to Peterborough Greyhound Stadium.

Courtesy of the Stadium, the team that raises the most money for Thorpe Hall will enjoy a night of greyhound racing from the comfort of their own private raceview suite with a sponsored race and delicious finger buffet for up to 40 people – a prize worth £600!

The Stadium will also have a team on the start line this June made up of all areas of the business; Sales and Promotions staff, the Racing Office, Marketing, Restaurant and Kitchen staff and possibly the Directors too.

Marketing Manager, Gareth Ramsden explains how the whole company benefits from getting involved, “Here at Peterborough Greyhound Stadium we try to do as much as we possibly can for charities and worthwhile causes. The Dragon Boat Challenge is a great opportunity for us all to have a bit of fun at the same time as fundraising – and we’re all extremely competitive, so it gives us something to get our teeth into! Taking part in the racing allows us to mix as a group and builds togetherness and team spirit, all concentrating on one goal. We have been advertising the Festival heavily at the Stadium and also online, so we hope to make as much money as we possibly can for Sue Ryder – Thorpe Hall Hospice”.

The 2016 Festival, supported by The Peterborough Telegraph and Connect FM, marks 25 years since Sue Ryder opened Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough. Every year, Thorpe Hall has to fundraise £1.5 million to provide their incredible end of life care so the support of the dragon boat teams is vital.

To take part in the dragon boat racing and help this incredible charity, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm. The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. There will also be a variety of bankside entertainment to enjoy such as funfair rides, children’s activities, food stalls and even a spectacular flypast from a Battle of Britain Lancaster Bomber!

For more information and an entry form call Festival organisers Gable Events on 01780 470718 or visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/peterborough

For information about Thorpe Hall, visit www.sueryder.org/thorpehall or email [email protected]

Stick Your Oar In!

Posted on 4th May 201625th April 2017 by douglassdigital

Dragon boat teams stick their oars in for Age UK Milton Keynes!

With just a couple of months to go until the annual Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival, places are still available for budding paddlers.

Companies, clubs and organisations from across the region are getting their teams together ready to do battle on the waters of Willen Lake on Sunday 19th June.

David Burchell, Managing Director of Lanes Sales & Rentals in Milton Keynes explains why his team keeps coming back for more. “It is undoubtedly MK’s best event. We enter predominately as a fun day out and for team building. Of course it will also raise our company profile and allow some networking on the day. It’s a great day and everyone enjoys the atmosphere. What other sporting event can you warm up for with a burger in one hand and beer in the other!”

For some companies it’s the thrill of the competition that draws them to the event, for others it’s more about a fun day out for staff and the opportunity to raise vital funds for a fantastic local charity.

Last year, over £22,000 was raised for Festival charity Age UK Milton Keynes and the teams have a very special incentive to raise as much money as possible thanks to The Swan at Salford.

Frazer Sutherland, representing Peach Pubs who run The Swan, comments, “The 15th MK Dragon Boat Festival is going to be a fantastic day out for all the family with the excitement of the racing and all the fun that goes with it, and we’re adding our voice to the organisers’ call for as many people as possible to get a crew together and see if they can win. Age UK Milton Keynes is a great local cause and we look forward to serving a feast to the winning crew back at the pub.”

This is a critical time for older people in the community and Age UK Milton Keynes provides vital services that help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness amongst the 14,000 local people and their families that they support every year.

To take part in the dragon boat racing and help raise money for Age UK Milton Keynes, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm! The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. There will also be a variety of bankside entertainment to enjoy such as funfair rides, children’s activities, food stalls and even a spectacular flypast from a Battle of Britain Spitfire! The Dragon Boat Festival is supported by MKFM.