THE 49th annual Monmouth Raft Race, organised by Monmouth Rotary Club, raised the staggering sum of £39,500 for charity.

The principal beneficiary of the 2014 event, which saw a record number of crafts enter the water at Monmouth, was St David's Hospice Care. The Newport-based hospice at home charity was presented with a cheque for £25,848, 75 per cent of the total raised, by Monmouth Rotary Club president Bob Handley.

The total raised was boosted further when DHL, which entered 23 rafts in this year's event, unexpectedly added a further, match-funded cheque for £5,000 to the pot bringing the total donated to St David's Hospice Care to £30,848.

The remainder of the money raised through the raft race goes to other local charitable causes supported by Monmouth Rotary Club.

Bob Handley, pictured below, was at the head of a group from Monmouth Rotary club and their spouses, who visited St David's Hospice Day Care Centre at Malpas, Newport, to tour the facility and to present the cheque.

Mr Handley said: "We're delighted that the 2014 raft race was such a huge success. We raised a record amount of money and saw a record number of rafts entered into the event.

"We're thrilled to have been able to donate £30,848 to St David's Hospice Care to help them continue to provide vital services to those with life threatening illnesses, in their homes throughout the community."

John Cullimore, the owner of Tump Farm, Whitebrook, which each year provides acres of his land for River Wye rafts to come ashore and for the family fun day to be staged, also attended.

Emma Saysell, chief executive of St David's Hospice Care and also below, explained the work of the charity and how the money raised is spent to help pay to provide vital care in the community.

Emma said: "We're absolutely delighted that this year's event was so successful. We continue to be amazed at the exceptional support we receive from the Rotary Club of Monmouth and the phenomenal amount of money raise by this wonderful organisation year on year."

The 2015 raft race will take place on Sunday 6th September and will once more be raising funds for St David's Hospice Care.

Monmouth Raft Race co-ordinator, Rotarian Norman Williams, revealed they have set a new target to reach in 2015.

"This year we reached our 100 raft target but for 2015, which will mark the fiftieth staging of the Monmouth Raft Race, we hope to increase that number again and have also set ourselves the goal of raising in excess of £50,000 for charity."

Norman continued: "We thoroughly enjoy working with St David's Hospice Care. Not only do they provide invaluable support in the community but they also help with the organisation and running of the raft race."

Entry costs £75 per raft including a commitment to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.

For full details about the 2015 raft race, including online or postal entries, visit http://www.monmouth">www.monmouth

raftrace.com or call raft race secretary, Rotarian David Forbes on 01600 712665 or Kris Broome at St David's Hospice Care on 01633 851051.