Top team at EMS ready for 2011 dragon boat challenge
The top team at Event Marketing Solutions has accepted a challenge to take to the water to raise vital funds for its client the British Heart Foundation.
Led by managing director Keith Austin, the intrepid employees will be taking part in the annual Chester Charity Dragon Boat Festival on June 12 to raise money for the heart charity.
They’ll take to the River Dee in a colourful Chinese-style longboat, competing against 18 other teams, in a bid to become 2011 Dragon Boat Champions.
EMS selected the British Heart Foundation as its designated charity as it works with the organisation on a variety of awareness roadshows and marketing campaigns.
Keith Austin at EMS said: “The dragon boat race has become something of an annual fixture for the EMS team. We’re hoping to improve on last year’s performance and raise over £1,000 again through sponsorship to support the vital work of the British Heart Foundation.”
Deborah Auty BHF Project Manager said: “We’re very grateful to the team at EMS for their support. We are working with them again this year on our rolling programme of roadshows, and they have really gone the extra mile by giving up their spare time in this way.”
The festival, now in its seventh year, has become one of the largest dragon boat events in the UK.
Crews of up to seventeen people (sixteen paddlers and a drummer) have to work together to get their boat down a 250 meter course and over the finishing line as fast as possible. A series of heats are held throughout the day, culminating in a nail-biting final race to decide the overall victor.