A CHARITY which aims to help disadvantaged young people in York will be the beneficiary of this year’s annual Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge.

The Rotary Club of York has revealed The Jack Raine Foundation is its chosen charity for the 2014 event on the Ouse.

Club President Nigel Naish said: “It’s always a difficult decision for us because there are so many deserving local charities.

“However, this year it was the unanimous decision of our members that our fundraising effort should be directed to helping disadvantaged and disengaged young people. The Jack Raine Foundation has been doing this successfully in York from their premises in Walmgate for many years. We hope to raise sufficient funds to sponsor the provision of a series of custom-designed activity courses which will benefit over 100 youngsters.

We are about to distribute application forms for this year’s challenge and I’m confident our choice will be well received by our regular competitors. Hopefully it will encourage generous public support for the 600 paddlers who’ll be racing on the River Ouse in York on Sunday, July 13.”

During the past 12 years, more than 150 local charities have shared more than £740,000 raised by Dragon Boat Challenge participants from more than 100 organisations.