Eight shipowners will send teams to do battle in this year’s dragon boat race for the Ocean and Shipping Community Advancing Children’s Health and Research (OSCAR) charity, an event that has become a regular fixture on London’s maritime calendar.

And there are another eight dragon boat “charters” available for those who want to join in the afternoon’s fun in Docklands in September.

“But,” said OSCAR chairman Phil Parry, “four of those boats are on ‘subs’, with three to other shipowners, so if you want to take part you’d better make a fixture soon!”

This is the fifth OSCAR dragon boat race. Next year, the event will be held earlier in the year as the official launch event of London International Shipping Week 2019.

More than £1.7m has been raised by the shipping industry for OSCAR, which was set up by Spinnaker Global chairman Parry to help fund the world-renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

Named after Parry’s son, OSCAR has funded research projects that have already changed the face of treatments for childhood cancers.

“The most recent developments have been made in the repurposing of drugs and the use of virus-specific T-cells,” explained Parry.

“Using drugs that have already been approved for other diseases, but which research has shown also treat leukaemias, makes a lot of sense. Targeted transplants are phenomenally exciting and are becoming a reality.”

The Liberian Registry has sponsored every OSCAR dragon boat race and is doing so again in 2018. TradeWinds has been an OSCAR supporter since the outset, with editor-in-chief Julian Bray a campaign board member.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for a variety of the day’s elements, which this year include a band, a bungee run and a coffee truck.

The rowing itself is hard fought but light-hearted.

“Most teams just turn up and have fun,” said Sian Simpson from Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, “but the fundraising competition is fierce”.

Scorpio and Union Maritime have been among the biggest fundraisers in the past few years.

“It astonishes me every year how so many good people in shipping pull all the stops out,” said Parry.

“They get it the right way round — fight to win the fundraising competition and treat the rowing as a bit of fun.”

To sponsor, take part or go along to support, contact Lauren Thipthorpe at lthipthorpe@spinnaker-global.com.