Here come the Dragons!

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People has joined with Gable Events to launch the ninth Nottingham Riverside Festival Dragon Boat Challenge!

The 2017 Dragon Boat Challenge takes place on Sunday 6th August as part of the annual Riverside Festival and is one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated team events in the region. Up to 50 crews from all over the East Midlands are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course. They will all be seeking to knock CR Civil Engineering off their pedestal as reigning champions whilst raising important funds for the hospice.

No previous experience is required to take part in the dragon boat racing, just plenty of team spirit. The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. Teams and spectators also benefit from being part of one of the region’s largest family festivals with a bustling fair and vibrant mix of music, dance, crafts and food from around the world, staged by Nottingham City Council. Notts TV and Business Link East Midlands are media partners to the Dragon Boat Challenge.

The Challenge’s official charity, Rainbows, is the only children’s hospice in the East Midlands. By taking part in the Dragon Boat Challenge to raise money for Rainbows, you will be helping families from Nottinghamshire and across the region to make the most of the time they have left together and create memories they can treasure forever.

Tom Stanyard, Corporate Partnership Fundraiser at Rainbows, said, “The Dragon Boat Challenge is an amazing event. With up to 50 companies competing for a number of prizes the day has a great atmosphere. More amazing than the event however is what Rainbows is able to do with the fundraising support we receive from the crews taking part. With only a small amount of guaranteed funding, your support at events like this make it possible for us to help and care for those families who need it most”

The top fundraisers for Rainbows will win the charity trophy plus a special prize-meal kindly donated by Nottingham Pan Asian tapas restaurant and lounge bar Chin Chin.

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

For information about the services of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People call Tom Stanyard on 01509 283919 or visit www.rainbows.co.uk

About Rainbows Hospice for Children & Young People

Rainbows Hospice covers the whole of the East Midlands providing care and support for the region’s children and young people who need it the most.

It was founded by Gail and Harry Moore, whose daughter, Laura, died of Leukaemia in 1989. Laura’s favourite thing in the world was a rainbow.

Rainbows opened its doors in 1994. Since its official opening in April 1995 by HRH Prince of Wales, thousands children, young people, their families, siblings, relatives and friends from across the East Midlands have used the hospice.

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to be told their child will die before them. But for an estimated 20,000 families across the UK, this is a reality. Some of these children will die when they’re very young, others will deteriorate slowly over a number of years. In most cases, full-time care falls to the parents – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People helps children and families in these situations with the emotional and physical challenges they face, helping them to make the most of life.

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People supports families from Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland and north Northamptonshire.