Robinsons Raft Team raise over £800 for charity
A team from Robinsons Brewery, Stockport, have successfully crossed the Welsh Menai Straits to raise £841.36 for the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.
The Dizzy Blonde’s at the Start Line - Left to Right - BDM John Hughes, Jacqui Ward, Joshua Bradley, Daniella Martin, Craig Fairfield, Paul & Jed Hulme and Sam Kennerley
This year’s annual Great Strait Raft Run saw 42 different teams comprising of over 300 participants all attempt to cross the body of water that Lord Nelson once called “one of the most difficult straits in the world to navigate”.
Starting from the old slate port of Felinheli, the rafts proceed passed historic Plas Newydd and on towards Porthaethwy. Teams passed beneath the Britannia and Menai bridges; the spectacular feats of engineering that link Anglesey to the mainland.
The eight person team, captained by Robinsons Business Development Manager John Hughes, rowed across the six and a half mile strait in just under an hour, navigating the notorious and occasionally demanding ‘Swellies’.
What started out as a fun raft race for charity soon became very competitive as Team Robinsons, named the ‘Dizzy Blondes’ after Robinsons famous beer, found their sea legs, defying the odds to finish the race in ninth place… not bad for amateur sailors.
John Hughes said: “The race was the perfect combination of teamwork, creativity and fun. Whilst it is a great team building event for Robinsons it is also a fantastic excuse to raise money for charity and get involved with members of our 40 strong Welsh pub estate.”
Berwyn Hughes of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said: “As a completely voluntary organisation we are dependent on the general public. With our donations we have been able to fund the replacement of our aging vehicles with two brand new 4×4’s that allow us to get to difficult off-road places around Snowdonia. Robinsons’ support will certainly go a long way to helping people in need and distress. We thank everyone at the brewery for this fantastic contribution.”
“You’d think we would be undeterred after a gruelling race,” joked John Hughes, “but you would be wrong! We will be back next year to raise more money. The Swellies better watch out!”
