Numerous charities are set to receive a fundraising boost as one of the region's most colourful festival returns.

With the eagerly anticipated East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival returning to Oulton Broad in two months time, entries are continuing to build for the popular event.

This year's dragon boat festival, sponsored by Warner Leisure Hotels and supported by The Journal, is an open charity event with entrants invited to raise money for the charity of their choosing. And although there can only be one winner in the dragon boat races on Saturday, August 11, a number of local and national charities will also be winners this year.

Teams who opt for the popular gold and silver entry packages can also nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donations. Amongst the charities set to benefit from funds raised by the crews entered so far are Nelson's Journey, QEH King's Lynn Breast Care Unit, EACH Nook Appeal, The Big C, Princes Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

ABP's two teams will be made up of members of staff from the Ports of Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Ipswich representing varied departments across the company. Crew captain, Lucia Firman, said: 'The dragon boat race is a great way to get people from the various different ABP ports together, have fun and raise money for charity at the same time.'

The 'Muskerteers' team – representing Musker McIntyre – will be supporting Nelson's Journey. The independent estate agent has seven offices across Norfolk and Suffolk and the charity is close to the heart of Joanna McIntyre, who set up the company 11 years ago. She said: 'This is an important local charity which over the past 20 years has helped thousands of local children following the death of an important person in their lives. We would like to try and raise £1,000 from our participation on the day'.

Jarrolds Department Store, GCB Recruitment, Tippers 'R' Us, Grosvenor Casino, Lovewell Blake, Anglian Demolition and Warner Leisure's Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Resorts are all looking forward to the popular festival as it returns to Nicholas Everitt Park in Oulton Broad.

For further information and an entry form visit

www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470718.

About the festival

To take part in the dragon boat racing, no previous experience is required – just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm.

Under the expert guidance of a qualified helm, which is provided by festival organisers Gable Events, the team's crew of up to 11 people will soon be paddling in time and bonding together as they race towards the finish line over the 200m race course.

With the dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment provided, each team gets three attempts to improve their race times with everyone having an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals.

With a great day of team building and fundraising in store, you can still join the businesses on the start line this August.

Last year, three out of the five top placed teams were first-time entrants into the festival. Trophies and medals are awarded to the top three crews, top mixed crew, top fundraisers and the best dressed.