Staff at a Kirkburton firm took to the water with family and friends to raise more than £1,000 for charity.
The team from industrial flooring company CoGri Group raised the cash for Prostate Cancer UK by joining 25 other teams at a dragon boat racing day at Pugneys Country Park, Wakefield.
As well as recording the fastest time in the heats at 53.35 seconds, the 22-strong team from CoGri finished third in the final, completing the 250-metre race in 55.26 seconds.
The team raised £1,487.28 on the day. A proportion of the money went to the chosen charities of the race organisers, Huddersfield and Wakefield Chantry Rotary Clubs – leaving CoGri with £1,041.28 for Prostate Cancer UK.
The cheque was presented at the firm’s North Road premises by managing director Kevin Dare and his wife Lynn, finance director, to John Heyworth, himself a survivor of prostate cancer and a volunteer helper with the charity.
Mr Heyworth said the charity was raising its profile as the impact of prostate cancer became more apparent.
He said: “One in eight men get prostate cancer and by 2030 it will the biggest cause of cancer. However, 280,000 survivors, myself included, are alive as a result of prostate cancer treatment.”
He said money raised for the charity was used to fund research projects, offer support through a dedicated helpline and teams of community nurses and to campaign for better treatment for men affected by the condition.
CoGri marketing manager Susan Smith said the firm had chosen Prostate Cancer UK because previous fundraising by employees had focused mainly on charities supporting issues affecting women.
She said: “Some employees had personal reasons for supporting this charity because they know someone close to them who has had prostate cancer.”
Commenting on the dragon boat race, she said the team was delighted to have beaten its £1,000 target, adding: “We had a fantastic day and couldn’t have wished for better weather.”
