SPECSAVERS Kingston upon Thames and Surbiton took part in the Kingston Rotary Club’s 20th Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday 17th July at Canbury Gardens.

A total of 38 teams from across the Borough participated in this fun, charity fundraising event. Specsavers Kingston and Specsavers Surbiton were raising money for their chosen cause, Momentum Children’s Charity. Established in 2004 Momentum helps families of seriously ill children during the toughest of times, offering personalised support to families as well as looking to enhance the healing environment at local hospitals.

Working in partnership with nine NHS Hospitals across South West London, Surrey and Sussex, the charity currently supports more than a thousand people, across more than 320 families. Momentum offers a wide range of services from music therapy for children struggling to express their emotions about their diagnosis, specialist bereavement support for grief-stricken parents, or respite breaks for families in desperate need of precious time together when cancer means a traditional holiday is not possible.

So in support of this very worthy cause, the team raised £945. They fielded a crew consisting of 14 members from the store teams, plus Director, Paul Bhalla who was appointed as the drummer for the day, an important role as he was responsible for co-ordinating the team’s paddling efforts to the beat of the drum.

Dressed in a colourful theme of green Momentum branded T shirts and oversize green spectacles, the Specsavers Kingston and Surbiton crew, whose team name was ‘Speccy Splashers’ did incredibly well, not managing to get through the three heats into the final, but putting in a sterling performance. The Dragon Boat Challenge Trophy was awarded to worthy winners, ‘Born to be Dragons’ from the Born Too Soon Charity whilst ‘Forty Towers’ were awarded a Trophy for Best Headgear and Costume.
Guy Loveday, Specsavers Kingston upon Thames, Retail Director said; ‘We are delighted to have raised such a great amount of money for a very worthy cause. Kingston Rotary Club did an amazing job in hosting this event and attracting the support of the local businesses and community groups who took part.’

Mr Loveday continued; ‘The Dragon Boat racing was exhilarating, great fun and we had a wonderful team spirit on board.’
Richard Leach, Specsavers Surbiton Optometrist Partner said; ‘After a two year delay, it was great to see all the Dragon Boat teams out on the Thames and to see support from spectators lining the banks at Canbury Gardens. We are thrilled to have been able to support Kingston Rotary Club and especially to raise funds in aid of Momemtum Children’s Charity.’
Momentum’s Corporate & Challenge Events Fundraiser, Kate Brookes said; ‘It was fantastic to see such passionate paddling from our corporate teams today. The Kingston Rotary Club’s Dragon Boat Challenge is always such a fun-filled day with so much going on to keep everyone entertained. It’s clearly been a brilliant team-building opportunity too!
Ms Brookes continued; ‘As a small, local charity that relies entirely on donations, it’s been genuinely heartwarming to see so much love and support for Momentum Children’s Charity. Every penny raised by Specsavers from today’s event will help us to reach even more families with seriously ill children, so that no family has to cope alone.’