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Dragons Get Set to Do Battle in Nottingham this August!

Dragons Get Set to Do Battle in Nottingham this August!

St George’s Day marks the anniversary of St George becoming the patron saint of England in 1348. Legend has it that in the days of chivalry and valour, St George arrived on his white stallion and battled the dragon with his sword to save the princess who had been offered as a sacrifice. Hot on the heels of St George, dragon-inspired legend of a different kind comes to Nottingham on Sunday 2nd August! And, just as St George slayed the dragon with his sword, you can slay dragons with paddles at the Nottingham Riverside Festival Dragon Boat Challenge!

One of the entrants set to do dragon-battle this year is Silver crew, Noble Foods. The company was founded in 1920 selling eggs from door to door out of a straw-lined wicker basket. They have now developed and flourished to form the leading supplier of fresh eggs to major retailers and have even widened their portfolio into the premium desserts category. We caught up with Michelle Rowden to find out what the company hopes to achieve from their entry this year; “We have entered a team to promote in-house team building and to raise funds for a wonderful charity. When we win the event through team work it will boost staff morale! The team will be made up of our managing director Anthony Minto and HR director Nikki King, sales, finance, admin and farm staff. Although we don’t have a target in mind, we will raise as much as humanely possible for Rainbows Hospice! Losing is not in our vocabulary… Conquer the Dragon!”

Entrants so far…

With teams coming from all corners of the East Midlands and representing so many different industries, the inter-company rivalry is definitely building! To date companies opting for the enhanced Gold and Silver entry packages which include marketing benefits as well as a significant donation to Festival charity, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People include; Intu Derby (Derby), Dacrylate Paints Ltd (Kirkby-in-Ashfield), Noble Foods Ltd (North Scarle), Eve Trakway (Bramley Vale, Derbyshire) and CR Civil Engineering Ltd (Loughborough). Other festival entrants so far include Cardiology Dept. Grantham Hospital (Grantham), Axis M & E Consulting Engineers (Nottingham), Warburtons (Langley Mill), Hallam Internet Ltd (Nottingham), AGC AeroComposites (Castle Donington), Nottingham Audi (Nottingham), Countrywide Surveyors (Castle Donington) and Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.

Entertainment…

As well as ‘slaying dragons’ and raising vital funds for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, you can enjoy the variety of bankside entertainment on offer as part of the Nottingham Riverside Festival. The Festival features both old and new attractions; from steam engines and organs to a large fun fair and street performers. Four music stages promote a range of music styles throughout the weekend including Jazz, Folk, World Music and a showcase of the best of local talent. There is also a children's zone with arts, crafts and participatory activities along with a craft fair, lots of other stalls and a diverse range of food outlets and bars.

Festival Charity – Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People

Time is precious for the children, young people and families from across the East Midlands who are cared for and supported by Rainbows. They are the only children’s hospice in the East Midlands and the funds raised from the Dragon Boat Challenge will enable Rainbows to continue to care and support those who are facing the most extraordinary challenges.

Katie Baxter, Events Manager, comments, "The Dragon Boat Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for Rainbows as it gives us a chance to raise essential funds with the help of the local community. Thanks to everyone involved, we are able to continue to be there for hundreds of families.” The top fundraisers for Rainbows will win the Charity trophy plus a special prize meal kindly donated by The Riverbank Bar & Kitchen, situated at Trent Bridge, not far from where the Challenge takes place.

How to join in…

To take part in the dragon boat racing and help raise money for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, 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.

For further information and an entry form visit: www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/nottingham or call Gable Events on 01780 470 718. For information about Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People visit www.rainbows.co.uk


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