Join in raft race challenge

South Kent Mind is staging a right royal raft race on the last Saturday in June to raise funds to deliver frontline mental health services.

The annual event will be held on the Royal Military Canal in Hythe with teams competing for trophies awarded for speed, raft building creativity and fancy dress.

Teams can build their own aquatic craft or borrow a raft or paddle boat from South Kent Mind. Organisers hope a new paddleboard class for individuals will also prove a hit this year.

With the Jubilee taking place at the start of June organisers have decided this year’s fancy dress theme will be ‘royalty’ and trophies will be awarded to the best costumes for bunting waving spectators and crews.

The event will be staged on the stretch of waterway close to the Waitrose store and is supported by volunteers from local Rotary clubs, Venetian Fete and Hythe Town Council.

Simon Dolby from the event team said: “Mental health and wellbeing is a hot topic at the moment so we wanted to create a fun event that can bring the community together to support such an important issue.

“Organisations should challenge their staff to enter a team to represent them. They have the option to build their own raft or borrow a raft or paddle boat from us.”

To book a team visit www.southkentmind.org.uk/raftrace and use the discount code RaftVIP. South Kent Mind is appealing for organisations to sponsor the event. Contact 01303 250090 or email contact@southkentmind.org,uk to find out more about sponsorship and ambassador packages.