Dragon boat racers fired up for May event

The Dragon Boat Festival Committee presented two Â£500 cheques for charities Enable Ability and Fitzroy at 1000 Lakeside on Friday.

Pictured is: (l-r) David Collins, president of Portsmouth and Southsea Rotary Club, Ken Ebbens, president of Southsea Castle Rotary Club, Carol Jenkinson, committee member, Jim Apted, community and fundraising co-ordinator for Fitzroy and Richard Soutar, charity manager at Enable Ability.

Picture: Sarah Standing (170177-2282) — The Dragon Boat Festival Committee presented two Â£500 cheques for charities Enable Ability and Fitzroy at 1000 Lakeside on Friday. Pictured is: (l-r) David Collins, president of Portsmouth and Southsea Rotary Club, Ken Ebbens, president of Southsea Castle Rotary Club, Carol Jenkinson, committee member, Jim Apted, community and fundraising co-ordinator for Fitzroy and Richard Soutar, charity manager at Enable Ability. Picture: Sarah Standing (170177-2282)

Organiser Carol Jenkinson was on hand as representatives from two charities, Enable Ability and FitzRoy, received cheques for £500 each and looked ahead to the 2017 event. The 2016 contest was a hit and previous participants are already looking ahead to the future. Jim Apted, fundraising co-ordinator for FitzRoy, believes they made a splash.

He said: ‘It was an absolutely brilliant day, Our staff and their families had fun and we hope it raised the profile for what we are attempting to do.’

FitzRoy, alongside energy giants SSE, raised a total of £4, 500 for their Love4Life programme, a dating project for people with learning difficulties. The next event takes place in May 2017 and is open to all. Join by visiting portsdragonboatfestival.co.uk