Commercial and residential property developer Summerfield has donated £5,000 to local brain injury charity Headway Somerset in order to support their annual Dragon Boat Festival, which is being held on the River Tone in Taunton this June.
James Holyday, director at Summerfield responsible for the property management and investment division, commented on the donation: “Summerfield selected Headway Somerset as one of its charities to support during 2015 because they do some really incredible work helping to rehabilitate adults with brain injury and also supporting their families.
“The dragon boat festival really is a fantastic event to take part in and it’s great fun to watch. I’m pleased that our £5,000 will help to make this year’s event another huge success for everyone involved.”
The third dragon boat race is being hosted by Headway Somerset on Sunday 7 June from 10am to 3.30pm. It is the main fundraising event for the charity, but it also offers the opportunity for other Somerset-based charities and not-for-profit groups to raise money by entering their own team.
The event has proven to be hugely successful in previous years, with up to 20 traditional Chinese row boats, which are helmed by The Dragon Boat Company, taking a 250-metre route from the Bridge on the River Tone towards the Cricket Club, and last year’s race raised over £21,000.
Hilary Dicks, chief executive at Headway Somerset, commented: “I am extremely grateful to Summerfield for their most generous donation that will ensure the 2015 Dragon Boat Festival is even bigger and better than in previous years. Our fundraising target for 2015 is over £140,000 and the festival is a major fundraising opportunity for us and the other charities and not-for-profit groups participating. ”
The dragon boat festival is ideal for both experienced crews and complete beginners; no previous experience is necessary in order to participate. Team members aged from 16 years and older can form a crew, with a minimum of 16 paddlers and a drummer in each boat.
