THE 2017 Monmouth Raft Race has raised almost £15,000 for St David’s Hospice Care.

A total of £14,808 was raised at the 52nd staging of the race, with the Newport-based hospice being the principal beneficiary of the 2017 event.

It received 75 per cent of the funds raised, with the balance going to other local charitable causes supported by Monmouth Rotary Club.

Sandra Davey, the president of the Monmouth Rotary Club, said: “Monmouth Rotary Club were delighted to be able to demonstrate our continued unique bond with St David’s Hospice Care by handing over the cheque for money raised from the Monmouth Raft Race 2017.

“We were also very pleased to be able to have a guided tour of the wonderful new hospice facility.

“Monmouth Rotary Club have been organising the Monmouth Raft Race, in its 53rd year in 2018, for the past 15 years and in that time the event has gone from strength to strength.

“We are thrilled to have been able to donate such a marvellous amount of money to St David’s Hospice Care to help them to continue to provide vital hospice and related services to those suffering life threatening illnesses throughout our community.”

Emma Saysell, the chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “It was a pleasure to show the Monmouth Rotarians the fantastic new in patient centre which we’ve created here at Malpas.

“The continued support we get from Monmouth Rotary Club and all our sponsors is truly amazing and important to us especially as our commitments have now been considerably increased with the opening a few weeks ago of the new 15-bed in patient centre in Malpas.”

The major sponsors of the 2017 raft race were BDW South Wales, Mandarin Stone and the Tiny Rebel brewery. Award sponsors were Siltbuster, Jolly Clothing, Harrison Clark Rickerby Solicitors, and EE Monmouth.

The 2018 Monmouth Raft Race, organised by Monmouth Rotary Club, will take place on Sunday, September 2, starting from Monmouth Rowing Club and ending at Tump Farm, Whitebrook.

Entry costs £75 per raft including a commitment to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.

Visit monmouthraftrace.com for full details about the 2018 Monmouth Raft Race, including online or postal entries or call Monmouth Raft Race secretary, David Forbes on 01600 712665 or Kris Broome at St David’s Hospice Care on 01633 851051.