Beautiful weather once again welcomed the 15th anniversary of Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival to Little Lake on Saturday, June 13th.
Seventy-one dragon boat teams comprising around 1,400 paddlers came together to raise funds for the purchase of a mammography unit for the Breast Assessment Centre at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
There were 63 community teams, with names like “The Rack Attack” and “Lovin’ Our Boobies”, and eight breast cancer survivor teams, including local teams “Survivors Abreast – Spirit” and “Survivors Abreast – Spirit 2”.
The races started at 8:30 a.m., with morning heats determining team placement for the afternoon races. Morning races were followed by opening ceremonies featuring local dignitaries and the Peterborough Pop Ensemble leading the national anthem, the pink carnation ceremony (where the names of former members of survivor teams who had lost their battle with breast cancer were read aloud), and the special breast cancer survivor race featuring the eight survivor teams.
For its 15th year, the festival’s fundraising goal is $215,000. As of June 15th, almost $121,000 has been raised in pledges. The top fundraising team, Survivors Abreast Courage, raised $15,210.85. The top individual fundraisers were Sherry Watson of Survivors Abreast Courage, who raised $2,765, Michelle Thorton of Survivors Abreast Spirit, who raised $2,150, and Jennifer Edgerton of Dragon R Butts, who raised $2,114.30.
Last year, the event raised over $200,000 to support PRHC’s mammography program, including new hardware and software. Since it began in 2001 — when 34 teams raised $25,000 — the event has raised more than $2.6 million for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment programs at PHRC.
While government funding covers up to 85% of a hospital’s operating costs, it doesn’t cover the costs of new technology and equipment so hospital must rely on community donations and fundraising efforts. Equipment at PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre has been 100% funded by community donation, including those raised by the Dragon Boat Festival.
2015 Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival – Race Results
Ladies Championship
1. H2Owning It 1:40.95
2. Dragon “R” Butts 1:46.44
3. PRHC Dunkin’ Dragons 1:51.06
4. Health Care Relocations Stroke Volume 1:51.39
Breast Cancer Survivors Challenge – Mckenzie Cup
1. Pink Sensations 1:39.58
2. Survivors Abreast Courage 1:43.93
2. Dragons Abreast 1:45.62
4. Survivors Abreast Spirit 1:46.20
Mixed Business Challenge
1. Ventra Vikings 1:33.75
2. NuBodies Plankers 1:37.00
3. Cambium Crusaders 1:38.82
4. KCU Liquid Assets 1:41.76
Mixed Community Challenge
1. Skinny Dippers 1:33.42
2. Evelyn’s Birds 1:35.63
3. Jillie’s Tea Party 1:36.08
4. Del Boca Vista Social Club 1:41.46
Mixed Medial Challenge
1. Chemong Docs Dudes and Dolls 1:30.74
2. FreeFlo Floaters 1:33.63
3. Seas the Day 1:47.12
4. Dialysis Damsels 1:54.22
Community Competitive Championship
1. Crossfit Kawartha 1:27.43
2. Yogi Green Coats 1:32.42
3. Fully Involved 1:34.68
Junior Championship
1. Adam Scott Flyin’ Lions 1:35.00
2. Crestwood Mustangs 1:45.69
Regatta Championship
1. Adam Scott Flyin’ Lions 1:29.07
2. Chemong Docs Dudes and Dolls 1:29.27
3. Skinny Dippers 1:30.00
4. Ventra Vikings 1:30.46
2015 Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival – Event Photos
Here are some photos from this year’s event by kawarthaNOW staff photographer Linda McIlwain.
