This year’s KM Dragon Boat Race is expected to raise more than £80k for good causes in the county.

The event is now officially a sell-out with all 42 boats booked. This week Kent Reliance was unveiled as the event’s headline sponsor for the annual event, which will be staged on the first Sunday in July at Mote Park, Maidstone.

The event is staged by the charity department at the KM Group to support good causes in county and this year more than 30 charities will benefit from sponsorship raised by the crews.

Simon Dolby from the KM Charity Team said: “The event has been building in size over the last seven years and is now a major fixture in the fundraising calendar of Kent’s charities and schools.”

Because of the popularity of the event Mr Dolby said they will open for bookings in 2016 within the next month.

Robert Gurr, Communications Manager at Kent Reliance, said: “We are delighted to be headline sponsor of the KM Dragon Boat Race. Kent Reliance has been actively involved in the local community for 150 years and this year Demelza is one of our key charities so our crew will take part in the big race to raise funds for the children’s hospice. We are really looking forward to it.”

As well as Kent Reliance, the event is supported by Countrystyle Recycling and Mote Park Water Sports Centre. Additional sponsors are still needed for the event with packages starting from £350. To find out more contact Dominic Comins on dcomins@thekmgroup.co.uk or Simon Dolby on 07989 164 752. To view video news footage related to the event visit www.kmcharitychallenge.co.uk

Fact-File

• The KM Dragon Boat Race is in its 7 year and was originally staged at Medway Maritime but outgrew the location.
• More than £300,000 has been raised for charity at the event since the event was first staged.
• The event is one of more than a dozen adrenaline events staged throughout the year by the KM Charity Team, including the annual KM Charity Walk and KM Assault Course Challenge. Visit www.kmcharitychallenge.co.uk