Cedars Annual Dragon Boat Race & Festival 2007
September 15, 2007
Even Mother Nature could not keep 500 enthusiastic paddlers from confronting the dragon called cancer. Twenty-four sponsored dragon boats took to the Lachine Canal today to race for the championship title and to raise funds for the Cedars Cancer Institute CanSupport Program at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC).
High winds, cloudy skies and cool temperatures made the conditions unpredictable, but there was no uncertainty among the paddlers that they would make it a race to the finish. Matt Smith, whose company 22Dragons staged the race, was “overwhelmed by the enthusiasm” and determination of the paddling teams who ignored the tough and sometimes tricky conditions and gave it their all to make the day a resounding success.
In the end, $226,000 (and counting!) was raised to the delight of the Cedars Cancer Institute organizers including Chairpersons Gwen Nacos and Bruce Shadeed, Cedars Executive Director Jeff Shamie and President Peter Abraham as well as the dozens of volunteers who kept the atmosphere lively and “warm”.
First place winners were none other than the Weinstein & Gavinos Dragons with the Travelway Warriors taking second, followed by the Radiation Oncology Accelerators and Dollarama Dragons.
