50 Years
We are so proud that this amazing fundraising event is still succeeding at the grand age of 50! Our sincere thanks to everyone, past and present, who have helped make this event so fabulous; organisers, sponsors, competitors, volunteers, companies… A sincere thank you to all from the Rotary Club of Chester.
In the zany 1970s,
Chester River Pageant started, it included a raft race; rafts built by competitors, race commencing at Chester Rowing Club, finish line at South Bank, Dee Bridge. A new finish line avoiding the weir commenced in 2014. The raft race a highlight of the pageant was organised by the late Dennis Dixon-Bate, he joined Rotary Club of Chester in 1976 and suggested the raft race should continue as a fundraising event for the Club “The rest is history”. There have only been three occasions when the race did not take place, one of them Covid-19. During 2022, The Rotary Club of Chester handed over responsibility to Chester Grosvenor 76 Round Table.
More Facts about Rotary Chester
The Chester Raft Race is not the only fundraising event we started. In 1981, the late Rtn. Matt Wesley pursued the idea of a sponsored run, latterly known as the Chester Half Marathon, we handed this event over to Ellesmere Port Athletics Association in the early 1990s.
We have also raised funds via golfing, carol singing, Santa sleigh, quizzing, walking, cycling events too.
Do you remember the Tsunami that struck South East Asia on 26/12/2004? Together with Chester Deva Club we raised £22,500.00 in one day!
In the 1980s the Rotary Club of Chester members helped form a Chester Rotaract Club which enabled Rotary Programs for Younger People;
Rotary Club of Chester also plays a big part in the Youth Speaks Project held annually and happily supports local community projects.
Rotary is open to anyone who wants to join. It’s a fantastic way to meet like minded people and help those less fortunate.
To find out more please email.
EMAIL : mail@rotaryclubofchester.co.uk
Rotary Club of Chester plays a big part in the Youth Speaks Project held annually and happily supports local community projects.
These are excellent examples of what humans can achieve when they pull together.
The Rotary Club of Chester is open to anyone who wants to join and make a difference. Make contact and pop along to one of our meetings.