CROWDS of people gathered in Reading town centre to watch Launchpad's annual pancake race, this afternoon (Tuesday, February 25).
The event, now in its 23rd year, is hosted by Reading's leading homelessness prevention charity and raises money for their support work.
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Supported by the Reading Chronicle and Broad Street Mall, the event saw a total of 37 teams of four from businesses across Reading dress in fancy dress and run relay races down Broad Street flipping pancakes along the way.
Patrons of Launchpad, Sir John Madejski and Danyl Johnson, were in attendance.
It was an egg-citing event and a tense finale which saw Blandy and Blandy narrowly take first place beating Reading FC.
This year, all money raised will help Launchpad continue their support work - expanding the charity’s services and opening their new work and life skills centre so that local people who are homeless, or at risk of losing their home, can learn new skills, build confidence and get back into work.
Launchpad's CEO, Ian Caren, said: “It has been an absolutely fantastic day today.
"It’s the 23rd pancake race, it’s tremendous fun, a good laugh and it raises money for Launchpad."
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He explained: "What we’re doing at the present moment is we’re building a work and life skills centre so the money raised today will go to help people to get back into employment, to do activities and to have a fuller life which is really important and this is a really great way of doing it."
An awards ceremony took place inside Broad Street Mall following the race.
Reading Minster won best team spirit, Reading University Law won most fundraised and R Collard won best fancy dress for dressing as skips.
Blandy and Blandy were the winners followed by Reading FC and Nexus Planning.
Winner Jonathon Brown said it was "really great" to come first but "most important" to "be taking part for such a great charity that is doing something for our community".
He added: “We’ll be back definitely.
"We’re looking forward to it, love a competition and certainly love winning but it’s about taking part too.”
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