Paddle for a cause

Dear editor:
In response to last week’s letter, “Frustrated,” I also have been a sponsor of the Canadian Cancer Society for many years and have provided financial support for the “Relay For Life” fundraiser, as well as a number of other national charities.
However, I also have become aware of how little money from the national charities is returned to support people in our district.
This awareness became the mainspring of our policies during the formation of the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Foundation and Festival.
The foundation has been approached by several local individuals, friends, and families who wish to do more for those who have medical costs that are causing them and their family financial hardship.
This situation brings a great deal of worry and stress.
There are others who wish to remember someone who has been loved and lost to illness or some other tragedy by making a significant donation to trust funds, or perhaps some other type of memorial to a deceased person.
There are, of course, a number of other situations that occur in our community that need our support—say a house fire, or someone who needs an assistive device to participate and enjoy a more complete lifestyle.
The Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Foundation, through our Festival, is happy to provide a method for varied local fundraising, which allows money that is collected locally to go to the people we know.
Crews and individuals are encouraged to use pledge forms and raise funds which will go directly to these folks.
Dragon boat festivals have raised millions of dollars in Canada for charities. For instance, there are teams who are made up of breast cancer survivors (“Chemo Sabes,” Row Busters,” and “Pink Dragons” to name just a few).
A number of studies have recommended that women who have had mastectomies take up dragon boat paddling as it is proven to improve the build-up of muscles depleted by surgery.
And, of course, when they paddle with a group who have gone through the same ordeal, they become their own support group at a strategic time.
Whether you use our local dragon boat foundation or some other avenue, I support Joelle Blanc-Paull’s suggestion that “charity begins at home” and that this type of fundraising be applied locally to local needs whilst continuing to support the national effort.
Let’s give to those we know and love.
If you would like help forming a team, or further information on this endeavour, please do not hesitate to contact us at 274-5773 or via e-mail at dragonboatff@gmail.com
You also can visit www.boundarywatersdragonboat.com or check us out on Facebook.
Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Greenhalgh,
President, Boundary
Waters Dragon
Boat Foundation,
Fort Frances, Ont.