Birmingham’s competitive business community will be fighting it out for charity at the annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival this weekend.
A total of 20 companies, including owners of the estate, Hines and Moorfield, independent property consultants GVA, Harvey Nash and West Midlands Fire Service will compete against each other along the canal at Brindleyplace in traditional Chinese longboats.
Professional networking organisations, Birmingham Future and the Birmingham Publicity Association (BPA) will also be taking part in the race on Saturday, June 22.
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Sponsored by Deutsche Bank, the Dragonboat Festival will raise money for local charity HelpHarryHelpOthers (HHHO), with each team required to raise a minimum of £1,500.
Last year’s event raised an incredible £40,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and it is hoped that the 2013 event will match this amount.
Kate Fittall, destination marketing manager at Brindleyplace said: “To have so many local businesses sign up to this fundraising event is fantastic.
''The Dragonboat Festival gives professionals from across the city the chance to release their competitive spirit whilst raising money for a charity that is close to so many people’s hearts in Birmingham. HelpHarryHelpOthers was chosen as this year’s charity because of Harry’s selfless and kind character, alongside his determination to achieve something great. Harry Mosely was someone that we can all take inspiration from.
“The Dragonboat Festival is now in its 14th year and it continues to get bigger and better each time. I personally can’t wait to see all the participants not only fight it out on the water, but show off their brilliant fancy dress costumes.”
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In addition to the boat race, participants will also be competing for the highly coveted title of ‘best fancy dress’. Costumes in previous years have included Crayola crayons, cows and Vikings.
Richard McCarthy, managing director of Deutsche Bank in Birmingham said: “This will be the third year that we have sponsored the Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival, and due to the huge popularity and success of the event, we have agreed to continue our sponsorship until 2015. Events such as Dragonboat really help to unite the Birmingham business community and that is something we are truly passionate about.”
HHHO was set up in memory of 11-year-old Harry Moseley who tragically died of a brain tumour in October 2011 after fighting tirelessly to raise money to help those suffering from cancer. Supported by Harry’s mother Georgie Moseley, HHHO is helping to achieve all the goals that Harry himself put in place whilst fundraising and raising awareness of cancer in the last years of his life.
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