Raft Race raised record breaking £64.5K for WaterAid
Friday 28th July 2023 15:30
Thames Water employees racing on rafts on the River Thames
- 1,000 people attended Reading Rowing Club to support Thames Water’s annual Raft Race.
- A record-breaking £64,500 was raised for WaterAid to support a new project in Madagascar.
- From Spice Girls to sailors, over 200 people paddled down the River Thames to support the charity fundraiser.
On Thursday July 20, over 1,000 people gathered at Reading Rowing Club for Thames Water’s annual Raft Race. This year’s event raised a record-breaking £64,500 for WaterAid to support a new project in Madagascar.
Over 200 contestants rocked, rolled, and rowed their way down the Thames, donning their best Spice Girl, ABBA and Bohemian ‘Raftsody’ fancy dress, to mark this year’s rock & roll theme. The crowd were on hand to turn up the volume, cheering on participants from the riverbank, with the event proving a huge success.
Paresh Kavia, joint chair of the Thames Water Charity Partnerships Steering Committee said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have collectively delivered another record-breaking Raft Race event, surpassing last year’s total.
“Team Thames pulled out all the stops, raising vital funds for WaterAid. The money raised will help support the charity to deliver clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene across the world.
“Water Aid’s work is truly life-changing, so I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who got involved and who showed their support.”
Thames Water’s supply chain partners also supported the race by entering rafts and sponsoring the event.
The raft race has been run every year for 24 years (except for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic) with Thames Water employees and its supply chain partners raising funds for WaterAid’s global projects.