Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race Raises Total Claire House Fundraising Beyond £200,000

Record-Breaking Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race Raises Total Claire House Fundraising Beyond £200,000

Annual charity event raises £45K and celebrates biggest year yet as businesses, competitors and supporters unite at Princes Dock

The Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race has smashed records and fundraising targets, with this year’s event becoming the most successful in its history, raising more than £45,000 through the 2026 event and bringing the overall total to more than £200,000.

Hosted and organised by waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters, the annual charity challenge returned to Princes Dock at Liverpool Waters bringing together a record number of competitors and businesses in support of Claire House Children’s Hospice.

Funds raised through this year’s event will support Claire House’s Liverpool appeal

Claire House Children’s Hospice supports seriously and terminally ill babies, children and young adults, helping them to create meaningful memories with their families while providing expert nursing care, emotional support and respite services. The charity supports families across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and surrounding areas, both at its hospice sites and within local communities. Funds raised through this year’s event will support Claire House’s Liverpool appeal, helping transform its West Derby site into a full children’s hospice and bringing vital care closer to home for hundreds of seriously ill babies, children and young adults across Liverpool and the surrounding areas.

The 2026 event set three new records, including the highest number of competitors ever to take part, the greatest number of businesses entering teams (24 in total) and the largest amount of money raised through the event to date.

The latest fundraising total means the Dragon Boat Race has now raised more than £200,000 in total for Claire House Children’s Hospice since Peel Waters first launched the event over a decade ago.

Teams from across the Liverpool City Region and beyond battled it out on the water throughout the day, with a combined crew from Avison Young and Fisher German emerging victorious to claim first place. Vital Energi and Ener-Vate UK secured second place, while first-time participants Wyld Sauna paddled their way to an impressive third-place finish. The coveted wooden spoon award was presented to The Bus Yard and Claire House Children’s Hospice, who took the accolade in good spirits.

This year’s event was headline sponsored by Anchor Group Services, whose support helped make the day possible. Adding to the festival atmosphere, The Bus Yard transformed its waterfront venue at Liverpool Waters into a vibrant competitor and spectator village, featuring live music, food trucks, speciality cocktails and ice cream, creating a celebratory backdrop for participants and visitors alike. Set within Princes Dock, one of five neighbourhoods that make up Liverpool Waters and home to thousands of residents and workers, the Dragon Boat Race also provided an opportunity to showcase some of the major developments currently taking shape across the destination.

Competitors and spectators were able to see the innovative new floating padel courts currently under construction, alongside progress on Wyld Sauna’s expansion, where a second floating sauna has recently been positioned ahead of its opening later this month.

The event also coincided with the arrival of TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 2 at Liverpool Cruise Port, with the impressive cruise ship drawing attention from competitors and spectators alike as it towered over Princes Dock and brought almost 3,000 additional visitors into the area.

Liza Marco, Liverpool Waters Associate Director at Peel Waters, said: “What began more than a decade ago as a fun way to bring our business community together has grown into an incredible event that continues to make a real difference to local families through Claire House Children’s Hospice.”
“To break three records in a single year is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the generosity, enthusiasm and community spirit of everyone involved. On behalf of Peel Waters, I would like to thank every business, team member, sponsor, volunteer and supporter who helped make this year’s Dragon Boat Race our biggest and most successful event yet.”
“Reaching the milestone of more than £200,000 raised for Claire House is something everyone who has taken part over the years should be enormously proud of. We are grateful to our headline sponsor Anchor Group Services, all our event partners and everyone who came along to support such a worthwhile cause.”

Jennifer Hanley, Corporate Fundraiser at Claire House Children’s Hospice, added: “Last year alone, we supported over 500 local families with 124 of those being at the end of a child’s life. The only way we are able to facilitate this care and offer Claire House as a lifeline to these families desperately in need is thanks to incredible fundraisers and teams, like Peel Waters, making it their mission to fund this.
“Having recently obtained planning permission to transform our West Derby site into a full children’s hospice, we were delighted that Liverpool Waters wanted to put this incredible total directly towards our Claire House Liverpool appeal, which will allow us to bring vital care closer to home for hundreds of seriously ill babies, children and young adults across Liverpool and surrounding areas. This money can help us fund the development of this site, creating a home for services such as 24/7 specialist care, respite stays and end-of-life support.”

The full list of businesses who took part in this year’s Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race event were: Anchor Group Services, Anstey Horne, Avison Young, Brabners, Bus Yard, CBRE, Claire House, CMA CGM, Colliers, DSG, Enervate, Equans, Fisher German, GRAHAM Civil Engineering, Graham + Sibbald, Griffiths & Armour, Krol Corlettt, Peel Retail & Leisure, Peel Waters, System C, Vital Energi, Walker Morris, Walker Sime, Wyld Sauna,

If you would like to support the Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race Fundraiser for Claire House Children’s Hospice, please donate here: Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race 2026