Good News From Dragon Boats: July 12 to 15, 2012

In keeping with their “bigger than life” event, the International Dragon Boat for the Cure recently announced lots of big news for this fundraising organization.

“Most press conferences are held to announce one, maybe two pieces of news,” says Gerry Orum, Dragon Boat Organizer. “We decided to go big and announce all of our great news all at once!”

Certainly the biggest news is the new Presenting Sponsor for the 2012 International Dragon Boat for the Cure – Shoppers Drug Mart.

 “We have been a long-time supporter of the event and their wonderful efforts,” said Richard Morel and Terry Barris, District Managers for Shoppers Drug Mart. “This year our individual community pharmacist owners and our organization decided it was time to step up and become even more involved in the great work that is done by Dragon Boat for the Cure and all the teams that participate.”

The 10^th Annual International Dragon Boat for the Cure will be held from July 12th - 15th, 2012 at Waterfront Park in Tecumseh at the foot of Manning Road on Riverside Drive. “In 2011, there were more than 100 teams participating,” says Orum. “Registration is well underway, and we hope to see even more teams this year.”

 The group – now officially known as Dragonview Gardens Cancer Support & Resource Program after completing a lengthy process to become an official registered charity – has donated $1.9 million to area hospitals to date, and has seen waiting times for treatment go from nearly six months to just seven days.

 “We are very excited to be celebrating our tenth anniversary this year,” explains Beth Noakes, Executive Director/Founder.  “We’re also launching a newly re-designed logo for the event – created by HCA Mindbox Creative Communications. There is a new “dragon” ribbon, and our new website goes ‘live’ this week – created by Blue Apple.” (www.internationaldragonboatsfestival.com)

Six hospitals in the region benefit from funds raised, some of which has helped to pay for three MRI units at Windsor Regional Hospital and at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital, and a Fluoroscopy Unit for Windsor Regional. But, Orum and Noakes both emphasize that the real work is done by the teams that come out every year to participate. “

Organizing is the easy part,” they say with a smile. “The real work is getting out there and paddling, and all the practice and fundraising the teams do…none of this would happen without them.”

 All the money stays in the local area, which is one of the reasons that Shoppers Drug Mart was pleased to be affiliated with Dragon Boats.

“We are proud of the local relationships we build every day in this community,” said Morel and Barris. “Our customers trust us to look after them and their families and this is just one way that we can repay that trust.”

by Richard Rosenthal

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