Hundreds of shipping luminaries joined forces to help Spinnaker Global lead the 3rd annual Dragon Boat race to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children – and hit an incredible £1.5million target for the OSCAR Campaign – and all of it from shipping.
On Friday 16 September 2016, 19 teams took to dragon boats on the Thames, racing each other and competing for the coveted winner’s medals. Sponsored by Lloyd’s Register for the second year running and Liberian Registry, who have supported the Race since its inception, the event was a resounding success.
Phil Parry, who founded the OSCAR Campaign for Great Ormond Street after his son received life-saving care at the hospital, said “The dragon gods saw fit to blow the rain clouds away in the end and the teams raised a fabulous £125,674 and counting. This means the Campaign has now raised over £1.5m in total – half a million towards the seas and oceans themed floor in GOSH’s new building and a million pounds towards to two research teams we are funding. I couldn’t be happier or more proud. That £1.5million is making such a difference to so many patients and families at Great Ormond Street Hospital and we should all be incredibly proud of the role we have played.”
The biggest fundraisers of the day were Union Maritime and Scorpio, both raising over £21,000 each. But the team that won the Race – in gruelling windy conditions on a chilly Thames – were North P&I Club.
The fourth OSCAR Dragon Boat Race will be the finale of London International Shipping Week 2017, taking place on 15 September 2017.
Further photos of the 2016 event can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/spinnakerglobal/albums/72157671135767734
