Teams from Northumberland County will be among the hundreds of paddlers taking part in the 25th annual Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday.
The event, held at Del Crary Park, has become one of the region’s largest community fundraisers and supports cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment services at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
Organizers have set a fundraising goal of $325,018 for this year’s festival. The figure was chosen to mark the event’s 25th anniversary while also recognizing the impact cancer continues to have on families across the region.
Festival Chair Michelle Thornton says the goal is both ambitious and meaningful.
Thornton says the festival’s fundraising target incorporates several symbolic numbers. The $325,000 base reflects the 25th anniversary, while the additional $18 references the statistic that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The final dollar recognizes that breast cancer also affects men.
Over its 25-year history, the festival has raised nearly $4.9 million for cancer care. If this year’s goal is achieved, organizers say the event could surpass the $5 million milestone.
Thornton says the cause continues to resonate because cancer touches nearly every family.
“We all know someone, so it’s something that everybody can get behind,” she said.
According to Thornton, the event balances its serious mission with a fun-filled day on the water with lots to see and do.
Motorists travelling to Peterborough on Saturday should be aware that road closures around Del Crary Park will affect portions of George, Perry, Lake, Lock, Romaine, Crescent, Winch and Haggart streets throughout the festival.
(Written by Joseph Goden with files from Jordan Mercier)
