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 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 22^nd May 2016!

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 enhanced Gold & Silver 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 10^th 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 470 718. To find out more about the services of East Coast Hospice call 01493 718707 or visit www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk