We hope you’re as egg-cited as we are for our legendary Pancake Race in Reading town centre on Shrove Tuesday, 13 February.
Now is the time to rally your team and to see if you have what it takes to lift this year’s coveted frying-pan trophy, whilst entertaining Reading shoppers and workers as you do so.
Supported by Reading Town BID, teams of four will show off their fancy dress and flip pancakes as they race along Broad Street for the right to be declared our 27th anniversary winners.
As well as the coveted frying pan trophy and the adoration of the people of Reading for the winners, there are also prizes for second and third place, best team spirit, best fancy dress, and best fundraising team.
All the money raised from this event will fund our essential work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Reading. This includes supported housing; a free drop-in service for anyone in housing crisis; and a work and life skills centre so clients can build confidence, learn new skills, and get back into work.
2023’s winners – from creative agency TMW – beat 35 teams to take top prize in their electric-blue shell suits.
Every year the outfits get better and better. Over the last 26 years we’ve had clowns, bananas, dinosaurs, chickens, fast food, and astronauts (and many others) all scrambling for first place.
Fiona Keyte, Launchpad’s fundraising manager, said: “Our annual Pancake Race is always a highly anticipated event on the town calendar and is thoroughly enjoyed by all; whether you are taking part or spectating, it really is a sight to behold! The ever-creative costumes and Olympic-standard competition make it cracking good fun!
“The ongoing support we receive from local businesses is hugely appreciated. Pancake Race is a wonderful way for people to get involved and join in with this incredible sense of community spirit.”
Wherever you work within the Reading area, you can secure your spot and batter it out with other local businesses by emailing fundraising@launchpadreading.org.uk by Friday 9 February 2024 with your name and contact details.
Race registration is just £125 per team of four. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
If you’d like to enter more than one team, please call the pancake hotline – 01189 507 656 and choose option 5.
We are also asking for volunteers to help with team registration, bucket collections and monitoring participating team’s pancake flips! If you would like to get involved, please email fundraising@launchpadreading.org.uk for details.