A Welshpool company is backing a river event that has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Invertek Drives Ltd, a global innovator and manufacturer of variable frequency drives, is helping support the Coracle World Championships which has raised more than £350,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity in Shrewsbury.
The championships, which involve competitors crossing the River Severn in coracles traditionally designed for fishing, will be supported by the company for the second year running.
Last year the event raised £35,470 with more than 40 teams entered with 160 competitors from local businesses and organisations.
Organisers hope to exceed that this year.
Entries have opened for the event and at least 40 teams are expected to take part on Friday, September 8, at the Pengwern Boat Club alongside the River Severn.
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“The World Coracle Championships is not only a great event for the area, but it’s also raising much-needed money for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity which supports individuals and communities throughout the region,” said Glyn Jones, technical director at Invertek Drives.
“As a major employer in the area, we’re very pleased to be supporting the event for our second year running. We’ll be entering several teams again this year to help raise money and the profile of the charity and the event. We look forward to other local businesses and organisations taking part again.”
Established by the late Richard Bayliss in 2007, the championships have competitors racing across the river in small, round-shaped coracles, once traditionally used for fishing in Wales and other parts of the UK, India, Vietnam, and Tibet.
Event chairperson, Jayney Davies, said: “We rely very much on local businesses, organisations, and individuals to support us. Once again, we’re very pleased to have Invertek Drives as our main supporter. Their support and other businesses are vital in our fundraising.”
Kate Thomas, relationship fundraising manager for the West Midlands, added: “The championships are a major fundraising opportunity for us and it’s a fun way to help us raise the vital money we need to continue our cancer support work. Those taking part often tell us it’s also a great team-building exercise.
“We’ve opened entries for the event and we’re hoping for a bumper number of teams entering again this year.”
Teams from local businesses, organisations and groups of friends take part. Entries can be found at http://www.coracleworldchampionship.co.uk/register.html
More details can also be found at www.coracleworldchampionships.co.uk
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