THE team at local retailer Cookes Furniture is preparing to take to the water for this year’s annual Mudeford Lifeboat Fun Day.

Having sponsored the event for many years, the family-run business will help raise additional vital funds for Mudeford Lifeboat Station and Royal National Lifeboat Institution by competing in the popular raft race on Sunday, August 5.

Prizes for first, second, and third place will be up for grabs at the event, as well as for the best dressed raft, most sponsorship raised. There will also be a wooden spoon prize, which the Cookes Furniture team took home last year.

The fun day will also see lifeboat and helicopter demonstrations, a duck race, a fun fair, a grand prize raffle, a variety of stalls, a barbecue, and water sports all coming to Mudeford Quay.

As well as sponsoring Mudeford Lifeboat Fun Day, the premium furniture retailer, which is currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Christchurch store, is also set to sponsor the popular Stompin’ On The Quomps Festival and Christchurch Carnival.

James Pike, MD of Cookes Furniture, said: “The Mudeford Lifeboat Fun Day is a fantastic community day, which helps raise vital funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Mudeford Lifeboat Station. The charity does an invaluable job in keeping our coastlines safe, and we are proud to be sponsoring the event for another year, as well as taking part in the raft race. "