Shrewsbury coracle races set to make a splash again for cancer charity
It is an event like no other which sees teams paddling across the River Severn in small round boats – some spending more time in the water than on it.
But the Coracle World Championships, which returns to Shrewsbury this year, has a more serious aim under its jovial exterior, which is to raise vital funds to help people who are living with cancer.
The Shrewsbury event has raised more than £230,000 since it began in 2008 and now, in its 11th year, organisers are hoping it will top a quarter of a million pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support’s work in Shropshire.
The coracle race was the idea of Richard Bayliss, who persuaded a collection of Shrewsbury companies to paddle across the River Severn for charity.
Mr Bayliss died of cancer in 2015 but the committee vowed to carry on the championships in support of Macmillan.
This year a new prize, the Richard Bayliss Cup, will be presented to the team that raises the most money on September 14.
Committee member Martin James stumbled across a bronze statue of a man holding a paddle and coracle at a car boot sale last year, and had it mounted on a plinth and engraved.
Mr James said: “I’m quite a fan of flea markets and things and love browsing.
“I was at a market at the Greenhous West Mid Showground when I spotted this statue that would just be perfect. I haggled a bit and had the statue mounted on a plinth and engraved.”
Mr James became involved with the committee after taking part in the coracle race three years ago – but he also has a personal connection to the charity.
About 10 years ago his son Adam was diagnosed with sarcoma – or bone cancer – in his leg and had limb-saving surgery.
Mr James added: “From my own experience with Macmillan Shropshire, you’re on a cancer journey.
“It’s a part of your life, it’s not just about diagnosis and treatment, but you need support afterwards too. Not just physical, but emotional and financial support. The recovery itself can be emotional as you live with the affects of having had cancer.
“Macmillan offers you advice and the opportunity to meet somebody else who has already been down the same journey.
“It’s a journey which makes you feel very alone and very vulnerable.”
Positive attitude
Mr James was with his son when he was diagnosed, and told he had cancer and might lose his leg.
“He had limb saving surgery and is now metal from the top of his thigh to his knee,” he said. “My son had a very positive attitude and a lot of that stemmed from Macmillan.”
Kate Thomas, Shropshire fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, said that all the funds raised at the event would help people in the county.
She said: “It’s a national charity so people think the money doesn’t stay in the county – but it does.
“It would be lovely to be able to smash the quarter of a million pound mark this year.”
There are 40 Macmillan professionals working in Shropshire, some in nursing posts specialising in areas such as lung, skin, head and neck, urological cancers, as well as chemotherapy treatment and palliative care.
Diagnosed
There are also specialist therapy posts, a team of welfare rights staff, two GP facilitators, psychological support and a cancer information support team.
For example, a specialist Macmillan team based at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Gobowen supports patients with sarcoma cancers.
Last year there were 17,000 people living with cancer in Shropshire and by 2030 this will rise to about 27,300.
Almost 3,000 people in Shropshire are diagnosed with cancer each year and 902 people die from the disease each year.
There are spaces for 48 teams of four for this year’s Coracle World Championships, which is held at the Pengwern Boat Club in Shrewsbury.
It is £300 for a team to enter and most teams then go on to collect sponsorship for taking part.
Go to the coracleworldchampionship.co.uk for further information about the the Coracle World Championship or how to enter a team.
