On Friday 19th September, Colemans proudly took part in the 2025 Dragon Boat Race at The Mailbox, Birmingham, supporting Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. It was a day filled with competition, camaraderie, and commitment to a vital cause.
A Winning Performance
Our crew, affectionately dubbed the Colemans Green Army, arrived in full camouflage; so convincing that one of the safety team mistook us for military personnel. But any illusions of tactical precision were quickly balanced by the chaos and comedy of race day. Paddles flew, Sukhi took a face full of canal water courtesy of Karl, and by the end of the first race, everyone was soaked to the skin and freezing.
Still, true to Colemans spirit, the team pulled together, kept their heads high, and paddled on, race after race, soaked through but smiling.
On the water, we delivered a strong performance, finishing 5th overall in the racing, but when fundraising was factored in, our combined effort pushed us to the top and saw us crowned overall winners out of 27 teams.
A particular highlight of the event? Beating another team by just 0.15 of a second! A moment of friendly controversy that led to a double-check of the results and the result being upheld.
Fundraising Success
Originally aiming to raise £2,550, Colemans Green Army more than doubled their target, raising an incredible £5,175. Their efforts contributed to a staggering £291,551 raised collectively by all teams on the day, in support of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity.
This incredible total will help the charity continue enhancing care, facilities, and support services across its hospitals, ensuring children, women, and families receive the very best treatment, comfort, and compassion during some of their most difficult moments.
Fancy Dress, Team Spirit, and Fierce Competition
The day was about more than racing. Teams turned out in imaginative costumes, from yellow chickens, to cartoon fruit, to bank robbers in stripy black and white tops (they were representing a bank ironically) creating a festival atmosphere on the canal-side. The Colemans team stood out not just for our racing ability, but for our unity, energy, and unmistakable kit.
Meet the Team: The Colemans Green Army
We’re incredibly proud of every colleague who took part:
Titus Akpan, Sukhi Anand, Andrew Coates, Sarah Crawford, Michael Croft, Natasha Dearn, Karl Douglas, Lewis Ensor, Rob Ensor, Rebecca Gibson, Ben Hammond, Declan Kelly, Maria Liston-Share, Tia Sephton, Gareth Stokes, Aaron Takhar, Perry Vaughan, Dylan Shoker, Claire Payne.
Thank you for your dedication, your team spirit, and for making a real difference to people’s lives.
Our Ongoing Support
This event is one part of Colemans’ broader commitment to social value. As a Changemaker Partner of Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital Charity, we’ve also contributed £50,000 to fund two vital respiratory monitoring devices, improving at-home care for children with complex needs.
Whether it’s in the boardroom, on site, or in a dragon boat, we’re proud to stand behind causes that truly matter.