Teams taking part in this year’s 2025 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival have beat last year’s fundraising total to raise an impressive £40,000 for the new Cambridge Cancer Hospital.
A total of 43 teams and around 600 competitors raced 30ft Dragon Boats up a 200-metre stretch of river at Fen Ditton, with a novice team claiming first place this year.
For the second consecutive year, the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital Project Team and patient representatives also entered their own boat to help the fundraising efforts.
Nikki Murphy, Deputy Project Director for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital said: “Many thanks to everyone who came to the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival this weekend, including all the crews, supporters and donors."
"This year’s event raised around £40,000 for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, which will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely, and save more lives. We would also like to extend our thanks to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for organising such a great event! We entered our own crew for the second year running and it was fabulous to have our team of staff and patients involved in such a fun event.”
Many of the teams dressed up for the annual event, organised by NewWave Events for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) and sponsored for the second year running by Illumina to raise money for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
The new specialist hospital for the East of England is bringing world-leading research and clinical excellence together, to change the story of cancer, and improve the lives of cancer patients across the UK and beyond.
Built over seven floors, the new hospital will house three world-leading University of Cambridge research institutes focussing on early detection, integrated cancer medicine and precision breast cancer medicine to accelerate and bring new innovations to the bedside faster, detect cancer earlier and treat it more precisely.
As well as the races, bankside entertainment included lion dances and Tai Chai displays from the Cambridge Chinese community, with family-friendly entertainment provided by Illumina, including strawberry DNA extraction and dragon chain making.
There was also a caricature artist as well as face painting – with live coverage and interviews on the day from Cambridge Radio presenters Gavin Richards and Fen Orr Ewing, with print coverage from the Cambridge Independent.
Mark Robinson, VP and GM, UK and Ireland, said: “Illumina is proud to once again have joined forces with ACT to support the 2025 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival. This year’s event was a fantastic success, bringing our teams together in support of a vital cause. It’s always inspiring to see the energy and generosity of our community as we raise funds for the new Cancer Research Hospital at Addenbrooke’s. We’re honoured to play a part in improving outcomes for children with cancer and giving back to the communities where we live and work.”
Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) said: “Next year is going to be even bigger and better. We are going to raise more, have more teams and also add more activities on the day for families and entertaining.”
To donate to the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (opens in a new tab), please visit the ACT website.
Find out more how you can support the plans for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospitals