The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) project team and patients took to the waters at this year's 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival, which raised £35k for the new East of England cancer hospital.
A total of 41 teams and over 600 competitors gathered along the riverbank at Fen Ditton for Saturday's 18th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival - paddling 30ft Dragon Boats up the river in the glorious sunshine.
As well as the races, bankside entertainment brought the crowds in – with lion dances from the Cambridge Chinese Community and family-friendly entertainment provided by sponsors, Illumina with fun activities such as strawberry DNA extraction, face painting and flag making.
The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project team, supported by colleagues working in Cancer services at Addenbrooke's Hospital and its Patient Advisory Group (CCRH PAG), made a big splash to 'drum up' further support and funds for the region's new specialist cancer research hospital, via Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT).
“We’re involving patients and staff at every stage of our project, so it was incredibly fun and rewarding to have our patients with us racing on the River Cam for CCRH.”
Elaine Chapman, Lead Advisory Nurse for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital
The new hospital, planned for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, will bring NHS staff from Addenbrooke’s Hospital and scientists from the University of Cambridge and its Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre together, into one seven-story 27,100 m2 building. With its world leading expertise in early detection and personalised medicine, the hospital aims to have global benefits.
“We are absolutely delighted to have raised £35,000. It’s been our best festival yet!
ACT’s Natasha Robertson, Corporate Partnerships Manager
ACT’s Natasha Robertson, Corporate Partnerships Manager, hailed the festival a huge success and said: “It was such a fantastic day with an amazing atmosphere. It was lovely to meet all the teams and having the CCRH project team competing, as well as on their stand, meant that everyone who came – whether they were competing or coming to join in the fun – could see the direct impact they were having by helping to raise money for the new cancer hospital."
Elaine Chapman, Lead Advisory Nurse for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, joined the CCRH project team in their boat and said: “We were absolutely delighted to take to the waters to raise money for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. It was my third time in a race crew and probably the best event yet!
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out to support such an amazing cause which has led to an incredible £35K raised for our future facility, that is bringing world-leading research and clinical excellence together, to change the lives of cancer patients across the UK and beyond.
“We’re involving patients and staff at every stage of our project, so it was incredibly fun and rewarding to have our patients with us racing on the River Cam for CCRH.”
Mark Robinson, VP and General Manager, UK and Ireland, and Northern Europe, Illumina said: “lllumina had an incredible day as sponsors of the 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival to raise vital funds for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust to build a specialist cancer hospital in Cambridge. Seeing families, friends, and local businesses come together to support their teams provided an amazing atmosphere for the day and made it extra special.”
If you would like to support the CCRH team with their fundraising following the event, please visit the Just Giving Page. (opens in a new tab)
We hope to see you return next year for an even bigger, better festival with funds from next year’s festival again helping to support the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.