Charities set to receive fundraising boost from the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival this August

The eagerly anticipated East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival is a great opportunity for local companies, organisations and clubs to get teams together and do battle on the waters of Oulton Broad, Lowestoft. Although there can only be one winner in the dragon boat races taking place on Saturday 11th August, a number of local and national charities will also be winners this year.

New for 2018, the Dragon Boat Festival, sponsored by Warner Leisure Hotels and supported by Lowestoft Journal, is an open charity event with entrants invited to raise money for the charity of their choosing. Teams opting for the popular gold and silver entry packages, which include a charity donation as well as marketing benefits, can also nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donations.

Amongst the charities set to benefit from funds raised by the crews entered so far are Nelson’s Journey, QEH King’s Lynn Breast Care Unit, EACH Nook Appeal, The Big C, Princes Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support with many more great causes expected to be nominated before entries close on 1st August.

ABP’s two teams will be made up of members of staff from the Ports of Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Ipswich representing varied departments across the company. ABP has taken part in the past two Dragon Boat Festivals and crew captain, Lucia Firman comments, “The dragon boat race is a great way to get people from the various different ABP ports together, have fun and raise money for charity at the same time. ABP supports several charities around the UK and is active in participation in fundraising events. The dragon boat festival is a great opportunity to meet and catch up with people not seen in a normal working day and every year more people want to get involved”.

The ‘Muskerteers’ team representing Musker McIntyre will be supporting local charity Nelson’s Journey. The local independent estate agent has a branch network of seven offices across Norfolk and Suffolk and the charity is close to the heart of Joanna McIntyre who set up the company 11 years ago, “This is an important local charity which over the past 20 years has helped thousands of local children following the death of an important person in their lives. We would like to try and raise £1,000 from our participation on the day”.

Jarrolds Department Store, GCB Recruitment, Tippers ‘R’ Us, Grosvenor Casino, Lovewell Blake, Anglian Demolition and Warner Leisure’s Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Resorts are all looking forward to a great day of team building as well as fundraising and there is plenty of time to join them on the start line this August.

To take part in the dragon boat racing, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm! Under the expert guidance of a qualified helm provided by Festival organisers Gable Events, your crew of up to 11 people will soon be paddling in time and bonding together as you race towards the finish line over the 200m race course. Each team gets three attempts to improve their race times with everyone having an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals. Last year, three out of the five top-placed teams were first-time entrants into the Festival! Trophies and medals are awarded to the top three crews, top mixed crew, top fundraisers and the ‘best dressed’.

For further information and an entry form please visit:
www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470718. For information about Festival sponsor, Warner Leisure Hotels, visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 01442 863245.

Warner Leisure is the proud sponsor of the 2018 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival and they are working together with partner charity, Macmillan Cancer Support to fund a range of help and advice for people affected by cancer.

Holiday Parks go ‘head-to-head’ at the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival this August!

The eagerly anticipated East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival, supported by Lowestoft Journal, is a great opportunity for local companies, organisations and clubs to enter a team and do battle on the waters of Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, whilst raising money for the charity of their choosing.

For the last few years, there has been particularly heightened friendly rivalry between two of the entered teams, Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Village. With owners Warner Leisure Hotels as race sponsor this year, the competition is set to be hotter than ever when the teams take to the waters of Oulton Broad on Saturday 11th August.

Whilst both crews are looking forward to another superb day out, a fantastic team building event and the chance to raise important funds for their nominated charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, the crew managers from each team admit that beating the other will make the day that little bit more special. This will be Gunton Hall’s fourth year at the event and Corton’s third with honours even so far in the ‘head to heads’.

Corton’s General Manager, Fern Chapman, is ready for the challenge; “Our team is gearing up for what I’m sure will be another fantastic event. Gunton Hall narrowly pipped us to the post in the 3rd heat last year, so we’re certainly looking to redress the balance this time around. The event really brings the community together and it is a great opportunity for us to raise much needed funds for our chosen charity, Macmillan.”

Gunton’s General Manager and crew captain, Joe Bullock, comments: “The Dragon Boat Festival is one that the Gunton Hall team has come to look forward to each year, and we can’t wait to reignite the friendly rivalry between our friends over at Corton. It was a very close race last year and we’re expecting the same level of anticipation in this year’s race.”

This battle of the hotels is sure to add some extra spice to what promises to be a fantastic day’s racing and it also gives other holiday parks an opportunity to put their name forward and enter a team to try and become the best in the region.

To take part in the dragon boat racing, 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. This year’s Festival is an open charity event with entrants invited to raise money for the charity of their choosing. Teams opting for the popular gold and silver entry packages, which include a charity donation as well as marketing benefits, can also nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donation.

Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Villages, both in Lowestoft, are in a portfolio of 13 country and coastal properties around the UK owned by Warner Leisure Hotels which specialises in activity breaks for adults. Warner Leisure Hotels is the proud sponsor of the 2018 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival and they are working together with partner charity, Macmillan Cancer Support to fund a range of help and advice for people affected by cancer.

For further information and an entry form please visit:
www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718.
For information about Warner Leisure Hotels, visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 01442 863245

The East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival – a Boat Race for all!

If the annual University Boat Race has inspired you to take to the water and try something different this summer, why not get some colleagues/friends together and enter a team in the 12^th East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival?

The East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival, with new title sponsor Warner Leisure Hotels, has become one of the most popular corporate team events in the region and there’s plenty of time to get a team together and guarantee a place on the start line on Oulton Broad in Lowestoft on Saturday 11^th August.

You don’t need the physique of Sir Steve Redgrave or Dame Katherine Grainger to be successful as dragon boat racing caters for people of all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness. No previous experience is required to take part, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm!

Under the expert guidance of a qualified helm provided by Festival organisers Gable Events, your crew of up to 11 people will soon be paddling in time and bonding together as you race towards the finish line over the 200m race course. Each team gets three attempts to improve their race times with everyone having an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals. Last year, three out of the five top-placed teams were first-time entrants into the Festival!

Leading web design, IT support and digital marketing agency, Netmatters based in Wymondham, are regular entrants (and previous champions) and Director, Chris Gulliver explained how taking part in the Festival has helped his business, “We enter for team bonding, to promote a healthy living culture within the workplace and to motivate and inspire not only those working here at Netmatters but also those we work with. Paddlers and non-paddlers, their friends and family are all encouraged to get involved which strengthens relationships inside and outside the workplace. A positive atmosphere brings with it a whole raft of benefits, motivated team spirits translate directly into efficiency and productivity”.

New this year the Festival, supported by Lowestoft Journal, will be an open charity event with entrants invited to raise money for the charity of their choosing. Teams opting for the popular gold and silver entry packages, which include a charity donation as well as marketing benefits, can also nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donation.

Specialising in UK short activity breaks for adults, Warner Leisure Hotels will have two teams entered into the event from Lowestoft representing their Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Villages, both will be fundraising for their partner charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

For further information and an entry form, visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Festival organisers Gable Events on 01780 470718. For information about Warner Leisure Hotels, visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 01442 863245.

Kung Hei Fat Choi! – Here come the dragons!

Gable Events and Warner Leisure Hotels have joined in the Chinese New Year celebrations this week with the launch of the 12^th East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival! This popular annual event returns to Oulton Broad in Lowestoft on Saturday 11^th August and up to 40 crews are expected to battle it out in 30’ brightly painted Chinese dragon boats over the 200m race course, watched by a large audience of spectators. The Festival is supported by Lowestoft Journal.

An ancient Chinese history

Dragon boat racing has an ancient Chinese history, dating back 2,000 years to the Kingdom of Chu, where local fishermen used their paddles to stave off vicious fish in a valiant attempt to save drowning warrior poet Qu Yuan. Their efforts failed and in Hong Kong a Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng) is held annually as a re-enactment of this tragic event.

Year of the Dog

According to the Chinese calendar, 2018 is the Year of the Dog and people born in this year are believed to inherit some of the animal’s characteristics, possessing the best traits in human nature such as honesty, loyalty, patience, reliability and intelligence. Their industrious nature, faithfulness and strong bond to others augurs well for the teamwork needed to be successful in dragon boat racing!

Team building and fun for all

This spectacular team event takes place at Oulton Broad, Lowestoft on Saturday 11^th August (the Festival has moved from its traditional May date) and is open to everyone. Each crew comprises up to 10 paddlers, a beating drummer at the front of the boat and a steering helm (provided by organisers, Gable Events) at the tail end. The dragon boats and all racing equipment are provided, each team receives three races and no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit! The Festival promises a fantastic day for competitors and spectators alike, with catering and bankside entertainment for all the family between races.

A great fundraising opportunity

The Dragon Boat Festival offers an excellent opportunity to raise money for good causes and at this year’s event, teams are encouraged to raise sponsorship for the charity of their own choosing. Crews opting for the popular gold and silver entry packages, which include a charity donation as well as marketing benefits, can also nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donation.

Festival sponsor

The 2018 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival has the backing of new title sponsor, Warner Leisure Hotels which offers holidays for adults in 13 country and coastal properties around the UK. Their two Suffolk properties, Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Village, have been entering teams into the Dragon Boat Festival for several years and are looking forward to renewing their rivalry on 11^th August!

Ian Gyte, Warner Leisure Hotels Operations Director, comments, “The Warner team are excited about representing our two East Anglia hotels, Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Village, whilst raising vital funds for our partner charity Macmillan Cancer Support. Our guests are brilliant and are always keen on supporting and getting involved in fundraising challenges. It will be a great challenge for everyone involved and we are thrilled to have two Warner teams entered and be the event sponsor”.

How to join in

For further information and an entry form please visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718. For information about Warner Leisure Hotels, visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 01442 863245.

Still time to make a splash at the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday 22nd May!

With one month to go until Oulton Broad in Lowestoft 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 10th anniversary on Sunday 22nd May and 20 teams from Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Ipswich and all over East Anglia have signed up so far, eagerly anticipating a spectacular day on and off the water in aid of East Coast Hospice. It’s the perfect event to improve team spirit and positivity so why not join them on the start line in May?

Chris Gulliver, Managing Director of 2015 Champions Netmatters, explains how entering a team has helped his business, “We enter for team bonding, to promote a healthy living culture within the workplace and to motivate and inspire not only those working here at Netmatters but also those we work with. Paddlers and non-paddlers, their friends and family are all encouraged to come along and get involved on the day which strengthens relationships inside and outside the workplace. This directly benefits the way we work together which in turn helps us to deliver projects more effectively. A positive atmosphere brings with it a whole raft of benefits, motivated team spirits translate directly into efficiency and productivity”.

The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. To take part in the dragon boat racing and help raise money for East Coast Hospice (ECH), no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm. Medals and trophies are up for grabs for the top three crews, top mixed crew and the ‘best dressed’ crew and the top fundraising crew for ECH will also receive a unique dining experience at The Hotel Victoria in Lowestoft – a great incentive!

The teams entered to date come from all corners of East Anglia and represent a variety of different industries so the inter-company rivalry is definitely building! Festival entrants so far include Silver teams; Mumfords Hardware (Southwold), Plandescil (Attleborough), ABP East Anglia (Lowestoft) and Standard entrants; Lovewell Blake (Lowestoft), NetMatters Ltd (Wymondham), Grosvenor Casino (Great Yarmouth), Howes Percival LLP (Norwich), Bourne Leisure-Gunton Hall (Lowestoft), RS Scan Lab (Ipswich), Corton Coastal Village (Lowestoft), Leathes Prior Solicitors (Norwich), Proserv (Great Yarmouth), Snelling Business Systems (Norwich), Lovell Partnerships (Norwich), two teams from AST Applied Satellite Technology (Great Yarmouth) and East Coast Hospice (Great Yarmouth).

As well as the dragon boat racing, teams will be able to enjoy a whole variety of bankside entertainment including a funfair, children’s activities, bungee trampolines, giant inflatables, food stalls - and even a special flypast by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight!

Visitors to the Festival, supported by the Lowestoft Journal, will also be able to find out more about the work of official charity, East Coast Hospice. At present there are no inpatient hospices in the Waveney and Yarmouth area but East Coast Hospice is working to change this.

Jeff Wood, Community Fundraiser for ECH comments, “East Coast Hospice were delighted to play a part in bringing back such a high-profile event to the people of Lowestoft and Waveney last year and we hope that in the coming month local businesses will continue to get behind the Festival and take up the challenge. It will be another wonderful day for colleagues to get together, cheered on by their families and friends, and there is still time to be part of it! We really appreciate the continuing support of the community and local companies to help us ‘Raise the Roof’ of Margaret Chadd house. Our own dragon boat team is not expecting to win but we look forward to taking part and seeing you all there!”

For further information and an entry form please visit: www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718.

To find out more about the services of East Coast Hospice call 01493 718707 or visit www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk

Hotel Victoria support inspires dragon boat fundraising for East Coast Hospice!

With just over six weeks to go until the annual East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival, local clubs, companies and organisations are getting their teams together ready to do battle on the waters of Oulton Broad, Lowestoft. As well as aiming to knock Netmatters off their pedestal as reigning champions on Sunday 22nd May they will also be seeking to raise as much money as possible for Festival charity, East Coast Hospice.

Over £17,000 was raised for East Coast Hospice through sponsorship and Gold & Silver entry donations last year with more than £5,000 coming from the crew representing Mumfords of Southwold. Crew manager, Ameila Chadd comments, “Despite poor weather and our rather pitiful results last year we very much enjoyed competing in the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival. This year we have invested in a much stronger tent and we plan to paddle with more vigour and improve our times. Our area of East Anglia is in desperate need of a residential hospice and this year’s event is being held to raise money to build Margaret Chadd House, a ten bed hospice near Gorleston. Last year we won the prize for the team who raised the most money and once again we want to amass as much money as we can for this important cause”.

The top fundraisers trophy is one of the most coveted awards at the Dragon Boat Festival and there is an added incentive for teams to top the fundraising leader board as The Hotel Victoria in Lowestoft has donated a special celebratory meal for the team that raises the most sponsorship for East Coast Hospice! Coast Restaurant at the Hotel Victoria is modern and contemporary, offering delicious locally sourced food and a selection of wines from around the world whilst you relax and soak up the stunning sea views. Events & Wedding Co-ordinator, Jade Alexander, is thrilled to be involved with the event this year and to be able to help such a worthy cause. She says, “The Hotel Victoria is pleased to be involved with the Dragon Boat Festival, supporting a local event to raise funds towards the wonderful work East Coast Hospice are carrying out in our community”.

At present there are no inpatient hospices in the Waveney and Yarmouth area but East Coast Hospice is working to change this. Margaret Chadd House will support patients and their families to live as well as they can for as long as they can and when the time comes, to support a dignified and peaceful journey at the end of their life.

You don’t need to be top notch in the paddling stakes to compete for the fabulous Hotel Victoria prize and help ‘Raise the Roof’ of East Coast Hospice. The host of other prizes on offer include the best placed mixed crew and the ‘best dressed’ crew as well as medals and trophies for the top three crews. To take part in the dragon boat racing on Sunday 22nd May, 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. The Festival, supported by the Lowestoft Journal, promises a fantastic day for competitors and spectators alike with street entertainment, funfair rides, inflatable activities and plenty of food and drink for all the family on the bankside at Oulton Broad.

For further information and an entry form please visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718. To find out more about the services of East Coast Hospice call 01493 718707 or visit http://www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk/

Local Holiday Parks set for ‘Friendly Rivalry’ at the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival!

The eagerly anticipated East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival is a great opportunity for local clubs, companies and organisations to enter a team and do battle on the waters of Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, whilst raising money for the Festival charity, East Coast Hospice. For two of the latest entrants however, the battle will have added value when they line up at the start on Sunday 22nd May 2016. Bourne Leisure’s Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Village will be competing against each other to see who has the best crew in the Lowestoft ‘Battle of the Holiday Parks’!

Whilst both crews are looking forward to a superb day out, a fantastic team building event and the chance to raise important funds for East Coast Hospice, the crew managers from each team admit that beating the other will make the day that little bit more special. Gunton’s ‘Gerry Hat Trick’ team achieved a creditable 13th place on the leader board last year but General Manager, Dean Saunders jokes that their main reason for returning this year is because “our neighbours Corton will be entering and whilst we are very friendly with them, we want to smash them!”

Corton Coastal Village, will be making their Festival debut this year and far from being put off by these comments, Corton’s General Manager, Terry Sterling admits his team are embracing the challenge. Terry says, “Gunton entered last year and thoroughly enjoyed the day so we decided to provide them with a bit of healthy competition. It will be a great day out for our team and a chance to mix with and get to know the Gunton team a little better. We employ 153 staff and ours will be a mixed team from all areas and levels at the resort. Now that Dean has thrown down the gauntlet, we aim to silence our noisy neighbours once and for all”!

This battle of the holiday parks is sure to add some extra spice to what promises to be a fantastic day’s racing and it also gives other holiday parks an opportunity to put their name forward and enter a team to try and become the best in the region.

To take part in the dragon boat racing and help ‘Raise the Roof’ of East Coast Hospice, 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. The Festival promises a fantastic day for competitors and spectators alike with street entertainment, funfair rides, inflatable activities and plenty of food and drink for all the family on the bankside at Oulton Broad.

For further information and an entry form please visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718. To find out more about the services of East Coast Hospice call 01493 718707 or visit http://www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk/

Local companies get fired up for the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival!

Companies, clubs and organisations from across the region have been rushing to get their teams together and sign up to take part in this year’s eagerly anticipated East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival, supported by the Lowestoft Journal, in aid of East Coast Hospice. The race is on to enter a team and guarantee a place on the start line in Lowestoft on Sunday 22nd May!

One of the early entrants is Lovewell Blake, who have entered the challenge on several occasions and just love coming back for more! Based in Lowestoft, the well-known Chartered Accountants serve more than 10,000 businesses throughout East Anglia and beyond. The Lovewell Blake team will be made up of staff from different departments and Crew manager Tom Denby finds the Dragon Boat Challenge is a superb way to get the whole of Lovewell Blake teambuilding. He says, “It is a great opportunity to get out into the community, raise awareness of the wonderful charity it supports and generally a fantastic way to team build and work together. We aim to raise as much money as possible for East Coast Hospice and can’t wait to take part again. We have many happy memories from the dragon boat races and hope to take away dry clothes but judging from last year we know this is highly unlikely!”

Entrants so far…
Lovewell Blake will be competing against companies representing a variety of different industries from all corners of East Anglia, all aiming to knock digital agency NetMatters off their pedestal as reigning champions whilst raising much-needed funds for East Coast Hospice. Other early Festival entrants include last year’s winners NetMatters Ltd (Wymondham), Grosvenor Casino (Great Yarmouth), Howes Percival LLP (Norwich), Bourne Leisure-Gunton Hall (Lowestoft), RSscan Lab (Ipswich), Corton Coastal Village (Lowestoft), Leathes Prior Solicitors (Norwich), Mumfords Hardware (Southwold) and East Coast Hospice (Great Yarmouth).

Enhanced Gold & Silver entries
Mumfords Hardware were very proud to be crowned top fundraisers last year after raising a staggering £5,000 for East Coast Hospice! Mumfords have again opted for the profile and fund-raising benefits of Silver entry which includes a £500 donation to East Coast Hospice as well as marketing benefits such as the company logo on the sides of a dragon boat. The six Festival Gold & Silver enhanced entries all sold out last year so companies are encouraged to sign up early in order not to miss out on these popular packages.

Leathes Prior Solicitors are returning to the event after a gap of eight years prompted by their Business Development and Marketing Manager, Charlotte Disney, receiving an invitation in the post. Whilst the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2016, the Norwich-based law firm is 140 years old this year! Charlotte comments, “It is a great opportunity for our staff to spend some time together doing something different and fun, whether by supporting the team or by forming part of the crew. Staff at Leathes Prior get involved in all sorts of events which in turn helps to improve morale and the feeling of being part of a team. We would like to leave the event having made some connections for the future and will do our very best to raise as much money as possible for East Coast Hospice. Our team will be made up of lawyers specialising in a variety of areas plus support staff and our finance director. We have some competitive characters so are hoping to get onto the podium!”

Festival charity – East Coast Hospice
Hospices play a key role in providing support and care to people with incurable illnesses as well as their family and friends. At present there are no inpatient hospices in the Waveney and Yarmouth area but East Coast Hospice plans to change this. Their vision is to provide an independent local Hospice that delivers expert medical care alongside compassion, dignity, love and peace for those with life-limiting conditions. They aim to support patients and their families to live as well as they can for as long as they can and when the time comes; to support a dignified ending to their life.

To take part in the dragon boat racing and help ‘Raise the Roof’ of East Coast Hospice, 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. The Festival promises a fantastic day for competitors and spectators alike with street entertainment, funfair rides, inflatable activities and plenty of food and drink for all the family on the bankside at Oulton Broad.

For further information and an entry form please visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470718. To find out more about the services of East Coast Hospice call 01493 718707 or visit http://www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk/

Gong Hey Fat Choy!

To celebrate Chinese New Year, East Coast Hospice has joined with Gable Events to launch the 10th East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival!

The 2016 Festival, supported by the Lowestoft Journal, takes place on Sunday 22nd May at Nicholas Everitt Park, Oulton Broad and is one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated team events in the region. Up to 50 crews representing companies, organisations, clubs and groups of friends from Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and throughout East Anglia are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course. They will all be seeking to knock Netmatters off their pedestal as reigning champions whilst also adding vital funds to the East Coast Hospice appeal.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. The monkey is an important animal in Chinese culture and people born in the year of the monkey are said to be intelligent, confident and have excellent leadership skills. It is also said that those born in the year of the monkey are incredibly positive, energetic, fun-loving and up for a challenge. These attributes will be much-needed by all the participants in this year’s Dragon Boat Festival!

No previous experience is required to take part in the dragon boat racing, just plenty of team spirit so why not take up the challenge? Thankfully, you don’t need the physical strength or athleticism of Steve Redgrave or Jessica Ennis-Hill to be successful, as teamwork and timing will win the day. The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. The Festival offers a full day of fun on land as well as water with plenty of activities on the bankside to entertain teams and spectators between races.

Hospices play a key role in providing support and care to people with incurable illnesses as well as their family and friends. At present there are no inpatient hospices in the Waveney and Great Yarmouth area but Festival charity, East Coast Hospice plans to change this. Their vision is to provide an independent local Hospice that delivers expert medical care alongside compassion, dignity, love and peace for those with life-limiting conditions. They aim to support patients and their families to live as well as they can for as long as they can and when the time comes; to support a dignified ending to their life. The funds raised from the East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival will go towards ‘Raising the Roof’ of Margaret Chadd House and helping to turn this vision into reality.

The team raising the most money for East Coast Hospice will be awarded the charity trophy and receive a special prize meal at The Hotel Victoria in Lowestoft. Coast Restaurant at the Hotel Victoria is modern and contemporary, offering delicious locally sourced and freshly prepared food, complemented by a selection of wines from around the world. The stunning sea views and relaxing atmosphere make it a superb way to help celebrate being the top fundraisers. Last year’s charity winners were Mumfords Hardware of Southwold who raised an amazing £5,000 for East Coast Hospice!

Carol Lester, Director of Festival organisers, Gable Events, adds: “The Festival is a great chance for companies and organisations to try something completely different, promote themselves to a large local audience, network with local companies and potential clients and raise money for East Coast Hospice. It is also a fantastic team building opportunity - what better way to get to know what makes your colleagues and competitors tick?! We expect the Festival to be as popular as ever this time around so we recommend teams get their entries in early to guarantee a place”.

For further information and an entry form please visit
www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718. To find out more about the services of East Coast Hospice call 01493 718707 or visit http://www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk/