THE 53rd annual Monmouth Raft Race takes place this weekend (Sunday 2nd September), with organisers, Rotary Monmouth, who have staged the annual River Wye Raft race for the past 15 years, once more raising funds for St David’s Hospice Care.

Rotary Monmouth President, Patrick Chatterton, said: “Putting on the raft race is such good fun. It brings pleasure to so many people, and St David’s are a great charity to support. We are extremely grateful to Mandarin Stone, David Wilson Homes, Harrison Clark Rickerbys, and Siltbuster for each sponsoring the event this year, and entering rafts into the race.”

Emma Saysell, Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “The continued support we get from Rotary Monmouth and all our sponsors is truly amazing and important to us especially as our commitments have now been considerably increased with the new 15-bed in patient centre in Newport.”

The Monmouth raft race, starts from Monmouth Rowing Club at 12pm on Sunday 2nd September and ends at Tump Farm, Whitebrook. The annual event sees crews of four or more build rafts and then paddle them 6.5 miles down the River Wye. A family festival, open to all, is set up at Tump Farm Whitebrook, including children’s fun fair, live music by The Forfeits, hog roast, burgers, local stalls and a bar run by Kingstone Brewery.

Ample car parking is available in the riverbank field near Monmouth Rowing Club for the start. (Enter from the Dixton Road roundabout). The finish car park is at Tump Farm Whitebrook. (Approach from Bigsweir Bridge). A £5 per vehicle ticket, available on the day, gives access to both car parks.

For full details about the 2018 Monmouth Raft Race, visit www.monmouthraftrace.com or call Monmouth Raft Race secretary, Rotarian David Forbes on 01600 712665 or Kris Broome at St David’s Hospice Care on 01633 851051.