Sussex businesses raise over £15,000 paddling for charity

‘Great Sussex Bath Race’ event organisers, Neil Laughton and Gemma King, announced the grand total raised through their first raft-racing event was over £15,000 and presented a cheque for £7,913 to Chestnut Tree House, representing half of the funds, with the other half going to Lifecentre charity.

“This year was a huge success and I’d like to thank everyone who joined in the racing mayhem and fun - we hope to raise even more money for our charities next year,” said Event Director Neil Laughton, Sussex entrepreneur, pilot and adventurer.

The next Great Sussex Bath Race tournament is being held on June 22 2014 at a private lake near Chichester and has so far received deposits from seven teams reserving their places, with more places currently being secured. Capacity for the event is 20 corporate teams and companies wishing to take part should visit the website www.greatsussexbathrace.co.uk for further information and details on registering a team.

Chestnut Tree House held the luncheon event, hosted by Gravetye Manor Hotel, for 50 key individuals and senior corporate executives from Sussex Businesses. During the event, guests were served wines from Bluebell Vineyard Estates along with a three course lunch specially prepared by chefs at the ‘AA Hotel of the Year’ award winning hotel.

Speeches were also heard from charity Chief Executive Hugh Lowson and a grandparent detailing her experience of using the Sussex-based Children’s Hospice.

Companies which participated in the Great Sussex Bath Race this year included The Hungry Guest, BP, John Lewis at Home, The Martin Sewell Building Company, Rendezvous Casino, British Airways Engineering, SJP Partnership, Mayo Wynne Baxter with Juice 107.2, Caremark, Natwest, Focus Group, Cocoa Loco, Virgin Atlantic and Bentley Motors.

The project was supported by local businesses including Be Creative, Natural PR, Business Leadership Academy, Colourwise, Amplee, The Gourmet Chef, Tomfoolery and Westbourne House School, with Burslem creating marble trophies and CP Hart Bathrooms providing bath tubs.

Find out more at www.greatsussexbathrace.co.uk and follow on facebook.com/SussexBathRace or Twitter @SXBathRace