THE 50th anniversary of the Monmouth Raft Race takes place in September and the organiser, Monmouth Rotary Club, is offering local businesses the opportunity to get involved.

The club is inviting local businesses to become award sponsors for raft race category winners. It costs £350 to sponsor an award, and in return sponsors will get advertising space on the event web page, publicity through the press, a free half page advert in the raft race programme, a Facebook posting, and free entry for one raft in the raft race.

Raft race coordinator, Rotarian Norman Williams said: "Asking local businesses to sponsor individual awards is a new initiative designed to increase the amount raised for charity. Last year the raft race raised almost £40,000 and this year, for the 50th anniversary, we are hoping to increase that to £50,000. The event is generously sponsored by Mandarin Stone, Basepoint and DHL, which covers the organisational costs. If local businesses sponsored an award, it would help us to achieve the £50,000 target"

To sponsor an award, or to request more details, send an email to Norman Williams at [email protected]">[email protected]

The raft race takes place on Sunday 6th September. St David's Hospice Care will be the principal beneficiary, and will receive 75 per cent of the money raised. The remaining funds raised will be allocated to other charitable causes supported by Monmouth Rotary Club. Find out more at http://www.monmouthraftrace.com">www.monmouthraftrace.com