Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

2008 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival Attracts Record Entry of 60 teams!

For six years, the Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival has been successfully firing the imagination of local companies and organisers, Gable Events, are delighted to announce that the 2008 Festival, taking place on Sunday 29th June at Willen Lake, has sold out two months prior to the closing date!

London, May 21, 2008 -- The Dragon Boat Festival, sponsored by electricity4business, has grown rapidly since its inception and is now the largest dragon boat event in the country as well as the biggest corporate team event in Milton Keynes. Carol Lester, director of Gable Events, says: “The Festival had previously been limited to 52 crews but, due to the overwhelming popularity this year, we decided to increase the capacity to 60 teams by racing five dragon boats at a time!

The successfully entered teams, who will be racing the beautifully ornate dragon boats at Willen Lake, are listed here. For MK companies who have missed out on entry this year we do still have availability for our Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival which takes place a week earlier on 22nd June and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year”.

As well as the racing, there’ll be lots of fun activities on the bank to keep crews and spectators entertained throughout including fun fair, Chinese lion dance, children’s activities and street entertainer, Dan the Hat, plus food stalls and refreshments. So why not come along and cheer on your favourite team, enjoy a relaxing day out by the water and maybe have a beer or two!

Based at Knowlhill in MK, electricity4business is now the largest UK independent retail electricity supplier providing electricity only to small and medium sized businesses. They are very aware that many local businesses continue being over charged for their electricity by their current supplier and they have responded by providing the cheapest electricity in the market! Indeed, Festival organisers, Gable Events were so impressed by the services E4B offer and their competitive prices that they are now one of their newest customers!

electricity4business marketing manager Lynette Havenga-Stokes says “As one of the fastest growing companies in Milton Keynes, we are keen to play a vital part within the MK community and want to provide practical support to local businesses.

Our two teams had a fantastic time at the Dragon Boat Festival last year and we are thrilled that the event has proved so popular that it has attracted an amazing 60 teams! We look forward to challenging the MK business community again whilst raising as much money as possible for our nominated charity Keech Cottage Children’s Hospice”.

Keech Cottage Children’s Hospice supports over 170 families from across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire who are facing the loss of their child. All the children cared for have been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition and most are expected to die in childhood.

Care for the children is available either in the charity’s bright and comfortable hospice near Luton, or through the team of community nurses and carers, who work with families in their own homes. All the services are provided free of charge, twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year and it costs around £2 million to run.

Sue Clarke, the hospice’s Corporate Fundraising Manager commented “As a charity, we rely on the generosity and goodwill of the local community to raise over 75% of annual running costs. We are delighted to have been chosen by electricity4business to be the nominated charity once again for the 2008 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival and we hope, through the Festival, to raise as much money as possible to help local families in need”.

For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact:

Emma Churchill
Communications Executive
E4B
Phone: 01908 353358
Email: echurchill@electricity4business.co.uk

About E4B:

Electricity4business is Britain's independent electricity retail company specialising in the supply of business electricity to small and medium sized businesses. E4Bs aim is to cut the cost for British business by offering lower prices.