Gable Events and MacIntyre are celebrating Chinese New Year by inviting entries into the 19th Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival.
This popular annual event returns to Willen Lake in Milton Keynes on Saturday 27th June and more than 40 crews are expected to battle it out in brightly painted Chinese dragon boats over the 200m race course, watched by several thousand spectators. The Festival is supported by Business MK and MKFM.
New for 2020, the Festival will be using smaller 30’ (up to 11 person) dragon boats with reduced entry fees to make it easier for companies and organisations of all sizes to enter teams!
An ancient Chinese history
Dragon boat racing has an ancient Chinese history, dating back 2,000 years to the Kingdom of Chu, where local fishermen used their paddles to stave off vicious fish in a valiant attempt to save drowning warrior poet Qu Yuan. Their efforts failed and in Hong Kong a Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng) is held annually as a re-enactment of this tragic event.
Year of the Rat
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2020 is the Year of the Rat. People born in this year are believed to be energetic, outgoing, enthusiastic and high achievers – all important qualities for dragon boat success in June!
Team building and fun for all
This spectacular team event takes place at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes on Saturday 27th June and is open to everyone. Each crew comprises up to 10 paddlers, a beating drummer at the front of the boat and a steering helm (provided by organisers, Gable Events) at the tail end. The dragon boats and all racing equipment are provided, each team receives three races and no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit! The Festival promises a fantastic day for competitors and spectators alike, with catering and bankside entertainment for all the family between races.
A great fundraising opportunity
The Dragon Boat Festival offers an excellent opportunity to raise money for MacIntyre, a national charity based in Milton Keynes that supports over 1,200 children, young people and adults who have a learning disability or autism. For crews opting for the popular gold and silver entry packages, a significant donation to MacIntyre is included in the entry fee alongside marketing benefits such as the company logo on the sides of a dragon boat. The crew raising the most money for MacIntyre will receive a special escape room prize courtesy of ‘Don’t get locked in’ near Leighton Buzzard – a great incentive!
Festival charity - MacIntyre
Head of Fundraising, Claire Kennedy comments, “MacIntyre is delighted to be the official charity for the 2020 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival. Financial constraints in the social care sector mean that income we receive from fundraising is more important than ever. We use fundraised income to buy the extras that make a real and tangible difference to the people we support. Every penny received will go directly to benefit the people we support; nothing is deducted for administrative costs.”
How to join in
For further information and an entry form please visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/miltonkeynes or call Gable Events on 01780 470718. For information about MacIntyre, visit www.macintyrecharity.org or call 01908 230100
