Entries are open for the annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival, which this year celebrates its 15th anniversary.
Since it was launched in 2000, the annual boat race has raised £315,000 for local charities and this year organisers have set a fundraising target of £50,000 for HelpHarryHelpOthers.
The race will take place along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Brindleyplace on Saturday June 28.
Attracting high profile businesses from across Birmingham, the event, sponsored by Deutsche Bank, sees 20 teams made up of between 10 and 16 rowers and one drummer participate in a series of heats in traditional Chinese longboats.
Lydia Ellis, Marketing Manager at Brindleyplace, said: “We can’t believe it’s been 15 years since we launched our Dragonboat Festival. The charity boat race has achieved so much during that time and I would like to thank every single person that has taken part in Dragonboat over the years. The money raised really has helped transform the lives of hundreds of people across Birmingham.”
In addition to fighting it out on the water, teams will also be asked to take part in their best fancy dress costumes, with the most original team being awarded the prize for best fancy dress. Previous winning costumes have included superheroes, 101 Dalmatians and Oompa Loompas which have often been chosen by someone who has been supported by the charity.
Last year’s event raised £48,000 for the HelpCure and HelpCope strands of HelpHarryHelpOthers, with £25,000 raised by Deutsche Bank alone. This year’s event will raise money for the HelpCope strand of HelpHarryHelpOthers which helps support families affected by cancer.
Each team is required to raise £1,500 through sponsorship, including a £250 deposit. All the money raised will be donated to HelpHarryHelpOthers and there will be some fantastic prizes up for grabs on the day.
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The races will begin at 10am with a prize giving ceremony for the winners at 3.45pm, followed by live music in the bandstand with Rudie and the Revolvers from 4pm.
Georgie Moseley, chairman and founder of HelpHarryHelpOthers and mother of Harry Moseley, said: “To have such a prestigious city centre event raising money for HelpHarryHelpOthers is incredibly rewarding and the HelpCope strand of the charity really does make a huge difference to families affected by cancer.”
HHHO was set up in memory of 11-year-old Harry Moseley who 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 those goals that Harry himself put in place while fundraising and raising awareness of cancer in the last years of his life.
For more information on the Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival visit www.brindleyplace.com