Weekend strollers along the banks of Ely’s picturesque River Ouse needed to do a double-take at the mythical sight of two giant dragons racing along the water, close to Hydro International’s UK Wastewater headquarters.
It wasn’t an illusion, but Hydro’s inaugural Dragon Boat contest for WaterAid aiming to become the Cambridgeshire city’s latest legend. Generously supported by suppliers, local businesses and Ely Rowing Club, the event helped bring Hydro’s corporate fundraising total to a monster £40,000 in just four years.
With 10 rowers and a drummer to keep the pace in each boat, eight teams of racers sweated it out along a 200m stretch of the river in a series of close-fought battles. There was even a contest staged and filmed by a TV crew from children’s channel CBBC. In a fiery finish, water services company Ecolutia took the Trophy after a neck and neck tournament.
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“This was the first event that the Wastewater division has organised for WaterAid and it was a great success,” said Chris Day, General Manager of Hydro Wastewater which is based in Prickwillow Road. “There will definitely be dragons on the River Ouse again next year. Now the contest is established we are hoping to raise even more money for the charity in future.”
All money raised by Hydro International goes towards supporting specific WaterAid projects in rural areas of Southern Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries. During 2010/11 WaterAid aims to provide over 17,000 people with safe water and 24,000 people with access to sanitation in the region. In Mali, access to water is a daily struggle, particularly during the dry season when people in rural areas can often spend a whole day walking to collect water.
With thanks to all the teams who supported the Dragon Boat event: Ecolutia Toruk, Mott Macdonald, B&W, WA Cooke, Ely Rowing Club, Hydro Wastewater and Hydro Stormwater. For more information on Hydro fundraising visit www.hydro-fundraising.com.
