THE organisers of Monmouth’s annual Raft Race will be raising funds for St David’s Hospice Care from the proceeds of this year’s event.

Monmouth Rotary Club has renewed its support for the charity which supports people with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

The organisers, who have staged the annual River Wye Raft race for the past 15 years, are now looking for sponsors to support the 52nd staging of the annual event.

Monmouth Raft Race will be staged on Sunday, September 3 which will see teams of four or more build rafts and then paddle them the six-and-a-half miles down the River Wye from the rowing club steps at Monmouth to Whitebrook.

Rotary President, Roger Finn, said: “We are very grateful to our existing sponsors and we are now trying to persuade more sponsors to dip their toes in the water, so to speak, and to back this hugely popular, very high profile event.

“Since Monmouth Rotary Club took over organising the event 15 years ago we have seen it go from strength to strength.

“And during that time we have developed a strong bond with St David’s Hospice Care who remain the principle beneficiaries of the money raised through the event.”

Emma Saysell, chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “The continued support we get from Monmouth Rotary Club is truly amazing and important to us, especially as our commitments will soon be considerably increased with the opening this year of the new 15-bed in patient centre.”

Entry costs are £75 per raft, including a commitment to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship. For full details about this year’s event visit monmouthraftrace.com.