A DRAGON BOAT CLUB on the Avon is donating a race boat to Odesa Dragons in Ukraine.
As its own dragon boat was destroyed after they were hit by the Russian attack in 2023, Janet Friend reports.
Money for transport
The club members are raising money to pay for its transport to get to the Ukraine club with the Avon boat club members raising funds by running, walking, paddling, cycling and swimming the equivalent 1,739 miles, that is the distance to to Odesa, home of the dragons. Image by Pershore Phoenix Dragon Boat Club.
Linda Harris, chair of Pershore Phoenix Dragon Boat Club, told the Ukrainian club members were very grateful and utterly shocked by the offer.Pershore Phoenix Dragon Boat Club decided it could afford to donate an older boat after finding a replacement.
In this boat the team had won the annual Standard League in 2012 and also took part in the Queen's Jubilee pageant in it in the same year, with Linda telling:
Special memories
"It's got quite a lot of special memories. It needed a bit of love and they were very happy to accept it needed a bit of love.
"We thought it was a really nice way for it to continue its journey."
The British team had raced against Ukrainian team in the European Championships in 2016.
The 50 members of the Pershore club are hoping to raise about £1,000 towards the £5,000 travel and fuel costs after receiving a large donation from a private donor.