University Boat Races From Putney to Chiswick to be called The Cancer Research UK Boat Races

In January BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management, sponsors of The Boat Races, donated their title sponsorship of the annual challenge between Oxford and Cambridge Universities to Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the official charity partner.

The event will now be known as The Cancer Research UK Boat Races with a new identity that will incorporate the famous Dark Blue of Oxford and Light Blue of Cambridge with the charity’s distinctive magenta and blue.

The campaign will see Cancer Research UK receive substantial exposure throughout the Races, which will take place on the Championship Course on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake on 27th March.

BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management will work together with Cancer Research UK to support their fundraising activities in the build up to The Boat Races and will also be implementing their own initiatives with all fundraising in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Sir Harpal S. Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said:, “We are enormously grateful to BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management for their generous donation. Cancer Research UK’s work has fuelled the progress that has seen cancer survival rates double in the last 40 years. Today, two in four people survive cancer. Our ambition is to accelerate progress so that three in four people survive cancer by 2034 and this donation is a very welcome contribution to that aim.”

First raced in 1829 and 1927 respectively, The Cancer Research UK Boat Races are amongst the oldest sporting events in the world. March 2016 will see the running of the 162nd Boat Race and 71st Women's Boat Race, both now taking place on the Championship Course starting from Putney Embankment.

Both Universities have welcomed the news. Cancer has had its impact on the OUBC and Sean Bowden, Head Coach at the OUBC, said, "The Boat Race has its own history of loss to Cancer with Daniel Topolski and Harry Mahon amongst others still in both club’s hearts."

Henry Hoffstot, President of the CUBC, said, "We are all very excited that BNY Mellon and Newton Investment management have generously donated their sponsorship rights to Cancer Research UK. To have the opportunity to row in The Cancer Research UK Boat Races and support a charitable institution of such calibre is a privilege for all of us."

Maddy Baddcott, President of the OUWBC, said,"We hope that this new connection with The Boat Races will inspire members of the public to support Cancer Research UK, an organisation which supports the tireless work of so many to further our understanding of the disease and work towards the development of new treatments for it."

Cath Bishop, Chair pf the CUWBC, said,"Cancer Research UK’s approach to scientific progress and medical breakthroughs is an inspiration to us - we are proud to be supported by them."

The Cancer Research UK Boat Races will take place on Sunday 27th March 2016. The Cancer Research UK Women's Boat Race will take place at 3.10pm GMT and The Cancer Research UK Boat Race at 4.10pm GMT.

February 25, 2016