AN ACTION-PACKED new fundraising event is taking to the water in Oxford.

Charity Marie Curie Cancer Care is staging a dragon boat race on the River Thames, and has thrown down the gauntlet for teams made up of families, friends or work colleagues to take part.

Throughout the day dragon boats containing crews of 11 people – 10 rowers and one drummer –will race each other for a place in the final.

The 12-ft canoe-style boats have a dragon’s head on the front. The drummer, similar to a cox, sits at the back of the boat banging a drum at the speed people should be rowing.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 25, on the Thames at Christ Church Meadow.

The charity’s area fundraiser, Jessica Taylor, said a firm called Race the Dragon had provided the boats and equipment.

She said: “We have music and entertainment – including a pig roast. It’s an event where people can bring their family and have a picnic by the side of the river.

“We want people from all the towns around Oxford to take part. It’s for all the family.

“You can get 11 members of your family or friends, or 11 members of a work group. It will be a fun exciting day.

“Each boat we get on the water will pay for one week’s worth of Marie Curie nursing in Oxfordshire.

“It’s the first time we have run this event and we need as many people as we can to support it.”

To hire a boat for the race costs £100 per team of 11, with participants required to raise a further £1,000 per crew – or £90 each.

Ms Taylor added: “The money raised from this event will enable our local Marie Curie nurses to continue to provide high quality nursing, totally free, giving people with terminal cancer and other illnesses the choice of dying at home supported by their families.”

news@oxfordmail.co.uk For more details, or to register a team, call 01869 246655 or email jessica.

taylor@marie curie.org.uk