kawarthaNOW writer Jeanne Pengelly was at the 2016 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival and asked a number of people why it was important to them.
The people Jeanne spoke to were some of the hundreds of volunteers, fundraisers, spectators, paddlers, and organizers who took breast cancer to heart at the 16th annual festival.
Since the event launched in 2000, individuals, teams and corporate sponsors have raised $2.8 million for cancer care facilities at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
As with this year’s Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, funds raised by last year’s festival will support a new 3D full-field digital mammography machine at PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre, which will help improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening and reduce the number of call-backs for second checks.
You can still sponsor a team of paddler by visiting www.peterboroughdragonboatfestival.com.
Representing support staff from Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Sonia Wilson #KRPisawesome says "We have colleagues who have battled or are battling breast cancer, and we paddle for them. As well, we support student success and wellbeing, so we are here in their names as well."
Adam Summers, left, and Connor Massimo of Team Pulse Physio Paddlers say another physiotherapy clinic challenged his to paddle this year. Adds Connor: "It's a great cause and we like that the money stays locally at PRHC. Everyone is affected by someone with breast cancer."
Jim Brown representing GE Hitachi with Team GE Volunteers says the Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival is "a celebration. It's a party. It's about the fundraising so we can have more survivors."
With her breast cancer survivor mom at her side, nurse practitioner Michelle Russelle of Team Chemong Docs, Dudes and Dolls says "We think of all the patients we have had with breast cancer, all the families affected, and our own families. It's so easy to see it's a good cause."
Robert Longstaff and Chery Boyes are new to Peterborough and, while they weren't paddling, they were cheering. "It helps everyone," Robert says. "And it's nice to come here and be part of the community. It's like a family here."
Susan Dunkley, business manager of the Peterborough Pop Ensemble, comments on the annual appearance of the ensemble during the Memorial Flower Service: "It's really important to remember. It's an honour to sing as the survivors remember those lost to breast cancer. The event itself? It's really a community-building event."
Andra Hughes, left, representing AONs Navy says the "biggest thing is that the money stays locally and we can see in our community how it helps." Her colleague Jeannette Larsen adds that it wasn't until the group got involved in the festival that they realized how many families and clients wanted to contribute.
The RBC Queen Bees raised $14,000 for this year's festival, and they know that's partly because they have a survivor in their midst. "You're going to make me cry," says Patti Perry, left. "It's all about my colleagues."
Kawartha Credit Union's Crystal Dayman says their sponsorship of the Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival for 15 years is an outreach based on company values that include caring for others and supporting credit union members. For KCU, it's partly a team-building day. This year, they entered three teams: Liquid Assets, Cash Flow and The Membership. "We all know someone affected by breast cancer and we want to do something to help. We're here for those people who are fighting and," she adds," it's just an awesome day!"
"It's a time to come together because we have something to prove to the world: that there is life after cancer," says Nancy Marshall, captain of the Cobourg Survivor Thrivers.
Team Galaxy Kung Fu Pandas' Alycia Buck, right, says "I think it's important to make people aware that we can make a difference." Evan Way, second from right, of Team Will's Warriors adds: "It brings the community together for a good cause."
Nora Darling (middle) races because she knows how breast cancer affects families: her sister had breast cancer. "We always come to this event," she says. And now it's a family affair — with her children volunteering in support of the cause.
Derek Fife of the Minute Maid Peelers simply says he takes part because "breast cancer affects a lot of people. It's affected every family in some way."
Thirteen-year-old Ellie Murdoch of Selwyn (middle) remembers her "grammy" having breast cancer, and the 2016 festival was her first time taking part in the event as a volunteer. "It feels nice to come here and fundraise for other people," she says. "Volunteering makes you feel good." Rileigh Darling (left) is here volunteering for the first time, along with her family.
Taylor Ahren, 12: "It makes me feel really good to be here and know we are supporting women out there who are paddling."
