A dragon is on a tour of Suffolk to drum up support for St Elizabeth Hospice’s Dragon Boat Race and ensure it is a roaring success.
Teams are already getting fired up for this year’s St Elizabeth Hospice Dragon Boat Race on Sunday 25th September at Alton Water in Stutton.
And it will also be a great day out for the family and spectators with stalls, refreshments and entertainment.
An authentic dragon head and drum – used on the Chinese boats themselves – has gone on a summer tour to some of the local companies already signed up to take part in the race.
Tour dates:
Tuesday 26th July to Tuesday 9th August: Ramada Encore hotel in Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, where people who visit the dragon and show the Tweet or Facebook link about the tour (posted during that fortnight) can enjoy a free Dragon Cocktail (1 per person).
Tuesday August 9th to Thursday 18th August: Ipswich Building Society in Tower Ramparts. Visitors can find out about the charity affinity account and how they can support the Hospice.
Thursday 18th August to Monday 29th August: St Elizabeth Hospice. It will be in the reception area of the Hospice in Foxhall Road for visitors and patients to enjoy. A team of nurses are set to take part in the race and battle it out with Hospice office staff and fundraisers.
Tuesday 30th August until Tuesday 12th September: Staffa Lodge Dental Surgery, Norwich Road Ipswich. In the waiting room.
Watch this space as more dates may be added! Follow the tour on Twitter #IpswichDragonBoat
The Dragon Boat Race will involve teams of up to 10 people paddling a 30ft boat with a drummer at the front beating time and a helm at the tail steering a straight course. They will battle it out over a 200m course watched by crowds of spectators.
Sara White, Corporate Fundraiser, at the Hospice, said: “The Dragon Boat Race will be exciting, colourful and great fun. There will also be food, drink and entertainment on the day making it a great day out for all the family. We are giving the public a taste of what is in store by letting the dragon out on a tour of Suffolk and we hope people will go and see him at some of the local companies who have already pledged to support the event.”
All proceeds will help St Elizabeth Hospice, an independent charity which costs £6m a year to run, provide services free of charge for patients throughout Suffolk as well as support for their relatives and carers.
Click here to find out more about the event and to download a registration form or call 01473 723600 or email fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk
The Dragon Boat Race is organised in association with Gable Events and supported by BBC Suffolk.