Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival triumphs with community spirit and charity fundraising

Friday, 12 July 2024 16:03

The Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival delivered a day of excitement and community support at Willen Lake last Saturday, July 6.

The Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival returned with a splash on Saturday, July 6, delivering a day of excitement and community support at Willen Lake. This year’s festival, organised by NewWave Events and supported by MKFM, Business MK, and MK Pulse Magazine, saw 19 teams compete and raised over an impressive £12,460 for Brain Tumour Research.

The festival featured a mix of new and returning teams, all eager to participate in the exhilarating dragon boat races. Each crew enjoyed a minimum of three races, with races running every ten minutes from 10am to 3pm, keeping the energy high and the competition fierce.

The triumphant team of the day was SOL Services, who clinched the top trophy, while special awards went to the Tooth Fairies from Teethinline as best-dressed crew and The Loft Minions from MK Loft Boarding who raised £1,970, won the charity trophy and top fundraisers prize from Volcano Falls.

The festival exemplified the community spirit of Milton Keynes, bringing people together for a noble cause. Alicja Mierzejewska, Executive Director at NewWave Events said, "We are delighted by the incredible support and enthusiasm from the Milton Keynes community for the Dragon Boat Festival. This event highlights the unity and generosity of the city, merging fun with the crucial mission of supporting Brain Tumour Research. The excitement on race day was electric, and we are honoured to organise such a significant event each year. Congratulations to all the teams, and a sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s festival’s success."

Dan Knowles, CEO of Brain Tumour Research, captained a crew of eleven campaigners who made it through to the semi-finals of the 21st Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival at Willen Lake on Saturday (July 6).

Nineteen teams took part in the event and Team Brain Tumour Research came 7th overall. Gavin White, 44, was one of the rowers who took part in all four races. Partaking in the event a year after he was given 12-20 months to live following his diagnosis of a glioblastoma (GBM).

Dan said, “It was a brilliant event, despite heavy rain the enthusiasm of the teams that took part helped to lift spirits. The whole team worked well together, sharing their reason for being in the boat. A huge thanks must go to all the teams for their rowing and fundraising. Everyone made a great effort with some teams in fancy dress and others who wore bright pink t-shirts to raise awareness of Brain Tumour Research which looked great on the water.”

Dan continued, “With the support of Milton Keynes businesses, the total amount raised can contribute towards four days of research at one of our Centres of Excellence to gain a deeper understanding of brain tumours so we can eventually find a cure for this disease.”

The festival featured a variety of events for people of all ages in addition to the exciting races. Inflatables and captivating Chinese Lion Dances were enjoyed by the audience. A wide range of food vendors catered to different palates, guaranteeing that everyone who attended had a great day.

Buoyed by the success of this year’s festival, the organizers are already gearing up for the 2025 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival. With ambitions for an even larger event, they aim to continue supporting Brain Tumour Research and fostering community spirit through this annual celebration.

For further information, please visit Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival and Brain Tumour Research Fundraising