Force is strong with dragon boat winners
BUSINESSES from across Birmingham came together to do battle in the annual Dragon Boat race.
Recruitment firm Kind Consultancy, dressed as Star Wars characters, took home the top prize at the 18th running of boat race which takes place on the canal next to Brindleyplace.
Coming runner up to its ‘Kind of a New Hope’ team was property consultancy Colliers International’s with its ‘Colliers McBoatface’ team.
Genting International Casino made a splash early on when rowers capsized into the canal during their first race – the third year in a row that a team has ended up in the water.
The event was again raising funds for city-based charity Cure Leukaemia which is striving to collect £1 million to support the new Centre for Clinical Haematology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
After raising £70,000 last year, organisers estimate that this year’s race will surpass the £100,000 fund- raising mark. Cure Leukaemia itself took home the dreaded ‘Paddle of Pity’ prize for coming last.
Nathan Sanghera, marketing and events executive at Brindleyplace, said: “The Brindleyplace Dragonboat Race 2017 was a huge success and over 15,000 people turned up to cheer on the teams. All the teams involved have been hard at work fundraising for Cure Leukaemia and, combined with the support of the public, we’re hoping to raise a record amount this year.”