Dragon Boat Racing and the Festival
Dragon boat racing is an ancient Chinese tradition and the fastest growing water activity in Britain today - as well as the most fun! Up to 10 people paddle each 30’ boat with a drummer at the front beating time and a helm at the tail steering a straight course. No previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit!

Gable Events has joined with Rainbows Children’s Hospice to bring you the first dragon boat challenge to be staged as part of the Nottingham Riverside Festival. The Dragon Boat Challenge takes place on Sunday 2nd August and up to 50 crews are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course on the River Trent at the Victoria Embankment watched by thousands of spectators. The Riverside Festival is one of Nottingham’s largest family events and includes a bustling fair and vibrant mix of music, dance, crafts and food from around the world. The Dragon Boat Challenge is likely to be one of the highlights of the Riverside Festival in 2009 and has the full support of Nottingham City Council.

Standard entry includes

•	Dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment.
•	At least 3 races per crew.
•	Family entertainment of the Riverside Festival.
•	Souvenir programme.
•	Trophies for the top three crews, the best-placed mixed crew (minimum 5 ladies), the crew raising the most money for Rainbows Children’s Hospice and the ‘best dressed’ crew.
•	Medals for the top three crews.
•	Special Chinese buffet lunch for the crew raising the most money for Rainbows Children’s Hospice.

Rainbows Children’s Hospice
As any parent will tell you, to look into the eyes of a sick child is a deeply moving experience. To know your child has a limited life must be the greatest human challenge any of us could imagine. If a family ever has to cope with this, Rainbows Children’s Hospice will be there for them. They offer specialist respite stays, symptom management, life improvement and end-of-life care for children and young people as well as support for the whole family. When a child stays at Rainbows they receive around the clock, one to one care which is essential for many parents. Rainbows understand that children with a short life to live have a lot of living to do. That's why they do everything they can to make Rainbows a happy and caring place.

Nicola Adcock, Events Fundraiser at Rainbows Children’s Hospice, said: “The Dragon Boat Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for Rainbows Children’s Hospice, as it gives us a chance to raise essential funds with the help of the local community. Situated in Loughborough, Rainbows is the only children’s hospice in the entire East Midlands region and requires £2.6million each year to keep its services open to those children and families who need us. Of this, less than 10% comes from statutory funding, meaning that the support of local communities across the East Midlands is vital”.

For further information, call 01509 638000 or visit the Rainbows website at www.rainbows.co.uk Reg charity no: 1014051