A spirited team of six employees from Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) has taken part in the Bedford River Festival Raft Race, successfully staying afloat and raising more than £1,100 for Cancer Research UK.
The team built and raced a homemade raft constructed from barrels, wood, rope, and ratchet straps, and narrowly avoided a sinking disaster when a corporate-coloured green flare misfired, creating a small fire on board the raft and engulfing the team in white smoke! Due to quick thinking of the crew on board, disaster was averted with the crew going on to secure a respectable sixth-place finish overall.
Glen Taylor, Chief Operating Officer and crew member said: “We were slightly nervous having never taken our more radical designed traditional raft on the water before. We were mildly underprepared, but full of enthusiasm. We proudly flew the CDS flag and demonstrated impressive teamwork and determination. Despite witnessing a rival raft break apart mid-race, the CDS raft stayed afloat, completed the race and raised in excess of £1,140 for Cancer Research UK – making it a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.”
The raft race is one of the highlights of the Bedford River Festival, a biannual two-day celebration, said to be the second largest free festival in the UK and attracts about 250,000 visitors over the weekend. Alongside the popular river-based competitions and displays, the festival features live entertainment, music, workshops, a funfair, family activities, and a wide range of community attractions.
The team included (L-R in team line up photo): Chiara Cogorno, Dental Nurse; Glen Taylor, Chief Operating Officer; Paula Dynes, Operational Lead for Bedfordshire; Adrian Thorp, Clinical Director; Sarah Freemantle, Dental Nurse; Owens Iguodala, Speciality Trainee in Special Care Dentistry.
