Newark Dragon Boat Festival 2024 raises over £48,000 for the Children's Bereavement Centre and Beaumond House Hospice Care
This year’s river-racing spectacular has raised more than £48,000 to be shared between two much-loved charities.
The fifth annual Newark Dragon Boat Festival — held at Riverside Park on Sunday, September 15 — raised nearly £48,660.
The profit from the event will be split evenly between Beaumond House Hospice Care and the Children’s Bereavement Centre, meaning both charities will receive over £24,000 each.
2024’s event saw the festival’s biggest-ever turnout as hundreds of people came along to enjoy the dragon boat races, family fun day activities, live entertainment, and food and drink vendors.
Jason and the Argonauts, from Jason's Motor Repairs, secured first place with an impressive time of 57.06 seconds.
CF Surfers, representing CF Construction, claimed second place, finishing just half a second behind the leaders, and VIS Electrical took third place, beating its fourth position in 2023.
Matt Colbourne, head of fundraising and communications at Beaumond House said: “To say we’re thrilled with the day would be an understatement. We had a record-breaking year for fundraising at the Newark Dragon Boat Festival, and we are immensely grateful to all the participants who not only took part but also went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts.
“A huge thanks to our headline sponsors GXO, RWE, and Pratt & Gelsthorpe Peugeot, along with our partners and supporters: Inspire, Lindum, Bellway, Newark Town Council, Greenzone Facilities Management, Security 2, Newark and Sherwood District Council, and Jayloos Toilet Hire. Without their support, this event would not be possible.
“Recognition and thanks must also go to the volunteers who gave their time and energy to the Newark Dragon Boat Festival. We are deeply indebted to them! This year, we had an incredible 107 volunteers on site who contributed a combined total of 532.5 hours.”
Charlotte Williams, fundraising manager for the Children’s Bereavement Centre, added: “The most wonderful weekend was had by everyone involved. With a record number of teams, along with thousands of visitors, both the Children’s Bereavement Centre and Beaumond House are delighted at the incredible sponsorship raised by the teams for the two charities.
“Newark Dragon Boat Festival is our biggest fundraising event of the year, and the support of the local and wider community is astounding. We’re already starting work on next year’s event”
The funds raised will allow Beaumond House to continue to provide supportive palliative care to patients and their families living in Newark and Sherwood, and the Children’s Bereavement Centre to provide it’s support to young people through the grieving process after the death or terminal illness diagnosis of someone close to them.
Newark Dragon Boat Festival has been confirmed to be back in 2025.
