Alicja, Author at Dragon Boat Events

Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival is coming to Willen Lake for 19th year! Entries now open!

Entries are officially open for the annual Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival which returns to Willen Lake on Saturday 24^th September 2022 and, new festival organisers NewWave Events, are expecting an even higher turnout this time around.

The Dragon Boat Festival supported this year by Business MK, Pulse Magazine, MKFM and MK Charities attracts more than 50 companies annually and for the first-time companies can raise money for a charity of their choice. Let’s make a difference together!

There is a great incentive for teams to raise as much sponsorship as possible as the top fundraisers will win a charity trophy and the sponsorship raised by the participating teams is expected to make a significant contribution to the charities in and around Milton Keynes.

Alicja Mierzejewska, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “We are thrilled to be able to carry on the legacy of the festival and we are excited to bring new and fresh ideas in the years to come. Lucy and I didn’t hesitate at all with a decision of starting NewWave Events. Being involved with planning this festival previously, we knew it was and is an important event for the participants, charities, and local community, so we started planning as soon as possible. When Gable Events closed it was certainly an end of an era, but we are optimistic for the future, and we are here to bring everyone back together again after what’s been a difficult time for everyone! Our dragons are ready and waiting, so see you all in September for a great day of fundraising and teambuilding!”

Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events said: “Bring on September! I’m so glad we get to bring this amazing event back to Milton Keynes and the new feature to raise money for any local charity I think will bring more interest and raise vital funds to help so many different charities in the area. After such a tough couple of years, this is exactly what the community and charities need and we cannot wait for it to all come together for the best year yet.”

The Festival will be using smaller 30’ (up to 11 person) dragon boats with reduced entry fees to make it easier for companies and organisations of all sizes to enter teams! With entries now open, companies, clubs and organisations from across the region are getting their teams together to take part. They represent a complete mix of new and returning crews but all with the same aim in mind – to enjoy a fabulous day out with colleagues and friends and make a difference in their community. Enhanced Gold and Silver entry packages are available which include marketing benefits such as the company’s logo on each side of a dragon boat as well as a significant donation to the charity of their choice.

To take part in the dragon boat racing and help raise money for your charity, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm! The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races.

For further information and an entry form visit: https://dragonboatevents.co.uk/milton-keynes-dragon-boat-festival/. If you wish to find out more about charities you can help, visit https://www.mkcharities.com/

Gong Hey Fat Choy! Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival is back for 2022

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) has joined with new event organisers NewWave Events to launch the 16^th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival!

The 2022 Festival takes place on Saturday 10^th September on the River Cam at Fen Ditton and is one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated team events in the region. Over 40 crews representing companies and organisations from all over Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course. The teams will also be raising vital funds for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals.

Dragon boat racing has an ancient Chinese history dating back 2,000 years and according to the Chinese calendar, 2022 is the year of the Tiger. Like their eponymous zodiac animal, people born in years of the Tiger are vigorous and ambitious, daring and courageous, enthusiastic and generous, self-confident with a sense of justice and a commitment to help others for the greater good – all important qualities for achieving dragon boat success this September and making a splash for Addenbrooke’s!

The Festival’s official charity is Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) which is the only charity dedicated to making a difference for patients at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals. Whether its treatment for an emergency, acute condition, pregnancy or long term illness, ACT believes that every patient deserves the highest quality of care available. By entering a dragon boat crew and raising money for ACT, the teams will be helping to raise much needed funds for cutting edge technology, additional specialist services, vital research and extra comforts for patients that make all the difference over and above what would be possible through NHS funding alone.

“Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is excited to be the official charity sponsor for the Cambridge Dragon Boat Race once again this year. We would love people to sign up for what promises to be a great day full of fun, friendly competition and team rivalry. We’re so grateful that the festival will be raising funds to support ACT this year, helping to make Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals even better for patients, their families and staff.” – Emma Bray, Corporate Fundraiser

Alicja Mierzejewska, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “We are thrilled to be able to carry on the legacy of the festival and we are excited to bring new and fresh ideas in the years to come. Lucy and I didn’t hesitate at all with a decision of starting NewWave Events. Being involved with planning this festival previously, we knew it was and is an important event for the participants, charity, and local community, so we started planning as soon as possible. When Gable Events closed it was certainly an end of an era, but we are optimistic for the future, and we are here to bring everyone back together again after what’s been a difficult time for everyone! Our dragons are ready and waiting, so see you all in 2022 for a great day of fundraising and teambuilding!”

Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “The Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival is definitely one of my favourite events and I am so glad we can now bring this back to the city once again. To be able to continue the partnership with Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) for 2022 is just the icing on the cake for the come-back of this event! We are all systems go now at NewWave with the preparations and cannot wait to welcome teams and spectators back for the 16^th year!”

No previous experience is required to take part, just plenty of team spirit so why not take up the challenge? The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. The Festival offers a full day of fun on land as well as water with activities on the bankside to entertain teams and spectators. The event is supported by Cambridge Edition and Cambridge Independent.

The team raising the most money for ACT will be awarded the charity trophy and receive the special prize of a Punting Tour along the River Cam courtesy of Let’s Go Punting.

For further information and to book your place on the start line please visit

https://dragonboatevents.co.uk/cambridge-dragon-boat-festival/ or call NewWave Events on 01536 674 748.

To find out more about the vital work of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust please call Allison Waterhouse, Community Relationships Lead on 01223 217757 or visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk

The Construction Industry Dragon Boat Challenge returns for the 22nd year!

The Construction Industry Dragon Boat Challenge is finally back after two difficult years and the entries are now officially open for ‘The Construction Industry Dragon Boat Challenge, in aid of CRASH Charity’ – organised by NewWave Events and sponsored by Building Magazine.

The afternoon event will take place on Thursday 19th May at West Reservoir, London, N4 2HA and will welcome 40 teams from across the industry in a battle to be crowned ‘The Construction Industry Dragon Boat Champions 2022’.

You may have noticed few changes here, NewWave Events is the new organiser of event. Alicja Mierzejewska and Lucy Morton, previous Senior Event Managers at Gable Events started the company during the pandemic to carry on the legacy and bring back many annual dragons boat events, including this one.

Alicja Mierzejewska, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “We are thrilled to be able to carry on the legacy of the challenge and we are excited to bring new and fresh ideas in the years to come. Lucy and I didn’t hesitate at all with a decision of starting NewWave Events. Being involved with planning this challenge previously, we knew it was and is an important event for the participants, charity, and the construction industry, so we started planning as soon as possible. When Gable Events closed it was certainly an end of an era, but we are optimistic for the future, and we are here to bring everyone back together again after what’s been a difficult time for everyone! Our dragons are ready and waiting, so see you all in 2022 for a great day of fundraising and teambuilding!”

Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “The Construction Industry Dragon Boat Challenge is definitely one of my favourite events and I am so glad we can now bring this back to the city once again. To be able to continue the partnership with CRASH Charity for 2022 is just the icing on the cake for the come-back of this event! We are all systems go now at NewWave with the preparations and cannot wait to welcome teams and spectators back for the 22nd year!”

What is Dragon Boat Racing?

Dragon Boat Racing originates from ancient China and is the fastest growing water-based activity in Britain – as well as being the most fun. Up to 10 people paddle each boat with a drummer at the front beating time. Each team will have a professional helm steering a straight course but it’s up to you to paddle the 150m course to the finish line.

What’s included?

The afternoon guarantees you a minimum of two races, bankside entertainment, BBQ, prize giving, souvenir programme, qualified staff, dragon boats and equipment.

You don’t need any prior dragon boat racing experience to take part (or to take the winner’s trophy!) just plenty of team spirit.

Why take part?

This action-filled afternoon is an unmissable opportunity for team-building, whether you’re welcoming new employees or thanking your team and key clients. Taking part will give your company a unique opportunity to challenge your peers on the water, build relationships and build your network whilst supporting your industry charity.

‘’CRASH is delighted to partner with NewWave Events and media partner Building, for the 22nd year Construction Industry Dragon Boat Challenge in aid of CRASH charity. It’s a fantastic fundraising event, promoting teamwork, relationship building and good old-fashioned fun! Over the years it has raised an incredible amount for CRASH’s vital work supporting homelessness and hospice organisations and we are so grateful to all the teams involved. We are looking forward to seeing many of our industry supporters ready to race in aid of CRASH on 19th May 2022.’’ Lucie Gillard, Fundraising Coordinator at CRASH

Hundreds of companies have already discovered the sport’s team building benefits and raised much-needed funds for CRASH so why not be part of it?

How to enter

To secure your team’s place on Thursday 19th May and for further event details, please visit https://dragonboatevents.co.uk/london-construction-dragon-boat-challenge/ or call 01536 674 748 For further information on CRASH’s vital work and how you can help please visit www.crash.org.uk