BUSINESSES are being encouraged to be early birds to get a £35 discount in terms of entry to Monmouth Raft Race this year and also to sponsor an event day award.
The annual River Wye charity fund raiser, now in its 53rd year, sees teams of between four and ten rafters paddle their home-made rafts 6.5miles from Monmouth to Whitebrook
The entry list for the annual race, to be staged on Sunday, September 2, is now open.
Organisers, Monmouth Rotary Club, are offering an early bird discounted entry fee of £40 per raft, for crews that enter before June 1. The normal entry fee is £75 per raft.
The main sponsor for the event is once again again David Wilson Homes, the builders of a new housing development at Kings Wood Gate in Monmouth.
Siltbuster Ltd of Monmouth, Harrison Clark Rickerby’s solicitors from Ross on Wye, and Jolly Clothing, of Monmouth, have each agreed to sponsor an award.
The Rotary Club has several more awards and would welcome an approach from any other organisation willing to become an award sponsor.
To get involved email Rotarian Norman Williams at monmouthrotaryclub@gmail.com for details.
By covering the organisational costs through corporate sponsorship, the club is able to make a larger donation to charity.
The principal beneficiary of this years’ raft race will again be Gwent-based St David’s Hospice Care.
Monmouth Rotary president Sandra Davey said: “We are very grateful to both sponsors of our annual raft race event, and the crews who take part, for their support.
“We have cemented a unique bond with St David’s Hospice Care over the last 14 years that we have been working with them as our nominated charity in the raft race. Many families across south east Wales are very grateful for the end of life support that St David’s provide frees of charge, to family members, and the contribution from the raft race helps cover the costs.
“Monmouth Rotary Club have been organising the raft race for the past 16 years, and in that time the event has gone from strength to strength. With almost 100 rafts taking part each year, crewed by more than 700 rafters, more than £280,000 has been raised for charity. Let’s hope we can build on this success in 2018.”
Emma Saysell, chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “We really can’t thank the organiser, Monmouth Rotary Club, and the sponsors enough for all that they do to ensure that the raft race is such a wonderful and very successful event, year on year.”
For full details about the raft race, including the early bird discount for entries before June 1, visit www.monmouthraftrace.com or call raft race co-ordinators Rotarian Norman Williams on 01291 680016, or Kris Broome at St David’s Hospice Care on 01633 851051.