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Our York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge 2026 took place on Sunday July 12th on the River Ouse.
....raising funds for a wide range of local charities chosen by teams, our nominated charity
Survive, and our York Rotary Charity Fund
WHAT A FABULOUS, FUN DAY .... AND RAISING £100,000 + FOR LOCAL CHARITIES
Interested in being on our mailing list to receive details of how to take part in 2027? Click here
On July 12th 2026, 36 teams battled it out on the River Ouse for the Challenge Trophy and other prestigious awards, including awards for the fastest Charity Team, Commercial Team, and of course the "Best Dressed Team" trophy.
Over the past 24 years the cumulative amount raised, for a whole host of worthwhile local charities, is
c. £1.8 million
Donate here:
(thank you)
NB to support a particular team
please use their fundraising page
Our 24th year - raising £000 s for Local Charities!!
Video of the 2026 event featuring the Grand Final
Final results 2026
Full list of results with all teams' times can be seen here
Grand Final - the finish line
Over 400 fabulous photos of the event are available courtesy of Chris Shepherd on her website (these can be downloaded free of charge)
https://www.chrisshepherdphotos.com/dragon-boat-race-2026-york
North Yorks Police & Fire celebrate their win
Runners up - Stevo's Shining Sailors
(A Shining Light)
3rd place winners "Cargill Cocoa Dragons"
(Cargill Ltd)
RNLI Bridlington win
the "Charity Trophy"
"Crombie Wilkinson Wave Warriors" win
the "Ged Bell Trophy" as Best Dressed Team
Our Nominated Charities for 2026
Survive
Survive is the only accredited sexual violence agency delivering a range of specialist services and trauma-specific interventions to adult survivors of rape, sexual assault, and/or child sexual abuse living in York and across North Yorkshire.
Their range of free-of-charge services and interventions includes support work, counselling, trauma therapy, EMDR psychotherapy, a helpline, and library.
Sexual violence can have a long-term, even life-long, impact on a survivor, affecting their mental, emotional, and even physical health. Many survivors present with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, such as nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks. Maladaptive coping strategies such as substance misuse, harmful drinking, self-harm, and suicidal behaviours are not uncommon in a survivor population – with survivors of child sexual abuse 15 times more likely to take their own lives.
Survive’s evidence-based services help survivors get their lives back on track by reducing their psychological distress and trauma symptoms and increasing their ability to cope and function with everyday life.
In the year 2024-2025, they supported 1,914 people and delivered 5,375 hours of support work, counselling, trauma work, and EMDR psychotherapy. The vast majority (76%) who access long-term trauma therapy and EMDR psychotherapy are adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
“We are so pleased that York Rotary has chosen Survive as their 2026 Charity. Not only will this support bring much-needed funds to the charity, but it also sends a clear message to survivors of sexual violence and abuse living in York and further afield: “What happened is not your fault. You are worthy of help and support to get your life back on track. We stand with you.”"
CEO of Survive, Ms Mags Godderidge.
Survive is seeing more people than ever before, and many with more complex needs meaning they require longer periods of support. Increased demand for their specialist services, plus rising costs, means they need to raise more funds than ever before.
Last year, Survive smashed their £2000 fundraising target for the Dragon Boat Race, raising £5,265. The year before (the charity’s first ever race), they raised £5,765.
York Rotary Charity Fund
York Rotary with around 70 Members is part of a worldwide organisation which aims to help those in society who are in need.
York Rotary Charity Fund is the charitable arm of York Rotary and raises funds to support a whole range of (mostly) small local charities which do invaluable work in the community.
The good that those charities can do, and the services they can provide, is so often limited by the funds they can access and that’s where we in York Rotary can help.
York Rotary’s carefully targeted funding, using money raised in the 2026 Dragon Boat Challenge, will support and extend the good that those charities and their dedicated staff and volunteers can achieve.
www.yorkrotary.co.uk Registered Charity no: 1025046
York Rotary raised funds to support the redevelopment and upgrading of one of the outdoor spaces at York Hospital to create a "Peace Garden" for the benefit of patients and staff
