To raise money for its charity of the year 2007, Nikon UK teamed up with its PR agent De Facto to race in the 2007 Rotary Dragon Boat Festival at the Docklands Sailing Centre in London
The competition was fierce, with many of the teams having competed in the event for several years in a row, but 'Team Nikon' managed to secure a place in the minor final after four intensive races.
Together Nikon and De Facto managed to raise over £800 for Mercy Ships.
Mercy Ships is a global hospital ship charity that provides free medical care, relief aid, community development and long-term sustainable development in the poorest countries in the world.
Staffed by an entirely voluntary workforce, the Africa Mercy relies upon donations for every single piece of equipment onboard, from the curtains and fixtures right through to the most complex and costly surgical and diagnostic equipment.
The new ship, the Africa Mercy, launched 4 May 2007, has been equipped with the latest Nikon Coolscope technology.
Rachel Underwood, bioscience application and product specialist at Nikon Instruments UK and team leader of the dragon boat team, says: "We try to support Mercy Ships whenever we can, not only by supplying the latest Nikon technology, but also by raising money in events like the Rotary Dragon Boat Festival".
Dragon Boat racing is an ancient Chinese tradition that goes back more than 2000 years.
Ten years ago the Rotary club of Canary Wharf started the Dragon Boat Festival, and it has been a successful fund-raising event ever since.
Originally a mythical Chinese event where dragon boats battle for rain in the dry season, it now provides a fun day out for all competitors.
