Shropdoc team rows the Severn for hospice charity

A Shropdoc team of intrepid rowers took to the River Severn in the heart of Shrewsbury for the 2023 charity Dragonboat race - helping to raise more than £30,000 for the Severn Hospice.

With 16 convict rowers and a Paddington Bear boat drummer, the team from Shropdoc raced along the river in a 40ft dragon boat to the beat of the drum - and finished the day in 7th place overall.

The team began training well in advance for the main event, with Team Captain Dr Simon Chapple leading high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions followed by practice runs in the River Severn.

And with 17 teams in the running, the Shropdoc Severns were very happy with their 7th place and a top time of 1.12.16.

The team individually raised over £1,000 on their JustGiving page, £500 of which will be match-funded by Shropdoc to increase the total to around £1,500, and team members have also raised around £300 in offline funds! 

We asked Dr Chapple to give us a round-up of the experience in 2023…

“We are so pleased to have taken part in the Severn Hospice Dragonboat Race for the second year in a row. Our Shropdoc Severns were exceptional this year and we’re ecstatic with the amount raised, both by our team and the overall total.

“As an organisation, we work very closely with Severn Hospice and often see first-hand how impactful and important its work is. It’s been a pleasure to support the charity once again, and we look forward to next year’s event!”

The Severn Hospice provides specialist care and emotional support for families in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Mid Wales living with an incurable illness. All of their care is provided for free, but they need to raise £2 for every £3 they spend - fundraising is vital for the continuation of the service.