Businesses urged to climb aboard for Brindleyplace’s Dragonboat Race

Businesses from across the city are being invited to battle it out at this year’s annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Race to raise money for Cure Leukaemia.

Now in its 20th year, the Dragonboat Race returns to the canal at Brindleyplace on June 15 as part of the estate’s family festival.

With entries now open, business professionals are being encouraged to take to the water in 20ft traditional Chinese longboats to demonstrate their paddling power as they compete in a series of challenging heats.

It is sponsored by Deutsche Bank and last year’s event raised over £56,000 for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia, which helps finance the internationally renowned Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a network of specialist research nurses across the Midlands to give patients access to potentially life-saving treatments through clinical trials.

Sharon Baker, associate at Deutsche Bank, said: “The Dragonboat Race is one of the city’s most successful annual corporate fundraising events and we’re thrilled to support the race for the 8th year running. Not only is it a lot of fun for those participating, but it’s also about raising vital funds for a fantastic charity that Deutsche Bank supports across the UK as one of its two Charities of the Year. With just 18 boats available to race, I’d encourage teams thinking about entering to act quickly as spaces are filling up fast.”

Each crew that enters, comprising 10 paddlers and one drummer, is asked to raise at least £200 per team member, with a charitable entry fee of £500.