Birmingham swan pedalo race raises money for child protection charity  

The NSPCC’s Pedalo Challenge hit the canals of Birmingham for a second time and has raised £4,500 for the child protection charity. 

Organised by the NSPCC West Midlands Business Board for the second year running, and sponsored by The Trade Centre Group, 11 teams raced 100m along Birmingham Canal outside Noel’s Bar.

Sonia Janagal from Lloyds Bank and Jas Dhillon from St James Place completed the 100m course in 1 minute and 46 seconds – 12 seconds faster than 2012 Guinness World Record holders Steve Harmison and Freddie Flintoff.

Emily Allen, the chair of NSPCC West Midlands Business Board, said: “We had an absolutely brilliant day on Friday, racing the iconic swan pedalos with the aim to beat Freddie Flintoff’s world record. It was a great day with so much money raised and the cherry on top was beating the world record.

“We would like to thank Green Space Leisure and Noel’s Bar who worked with us on this event, Trade Centre UK and all of the Birmingham businesses that got involved to take part, sponsor and support us, to help raise vital funds for children in the West Midlands.”

The NSPCC West Midlands Business Board is made up of volunteers and works across Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands to raise money for the NSPCC.

The team of volunteers organise events and challenges throughout the year to generate funds, including the NSPCC’s Big Birthday Ball which is taking place at Birmingham’s ICC this autumn on Friday 11 October.

The event will celebrate the NSPCC’s 140th birthday and will be hosted by Marverine Cole from Good Morning Britain and PJ Ellis from BBC Radio WM and Big Brother. For more information or to purchase tickets, please send an email to the NSPCC’s Birmingham Business Board at nspccwmbb@gmail.com