Joey Payeur
A fun-filled day on the water this Saturday will be accompanied by a focus on eliminating one of the leading causes of death among women in Canada.
The sixth-annual International Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival will take over the Sorting Gap Marina starting at 9:30 a.m.
Festival organizer Annely Thorstad promised plenty of enjoyment for both paddlers and spectators alike.
But she emphasized the central theme of the day will be raising money in the fight against breast cancer.
“‘Ellie’s Crepe Cart’ will be on hand serving up a strawberry crepe with all the proceeds going to breast cancer,” noted Thorstad.
“The ‘I Am Awesome’ girls will also be around doing a breast cancer fundraiser,” she continued.
“Anyone wanting to make a donation to breast cancer can do so at the registration table and get a tax receipt for it.”
The most poignant moment of the day will come in between the qualifying heats of the dragon boat races and the championship round.
That’s when, for the second time, a special flower ceremony will be held with breast cancer survivors going out in one of the dragon boats and dropping flowers in the water.
The symbolic gesture is done as a tribute to honour survivors, caregivers and those who have passed away from the disease.
Everyone is welcome to participate by purchasing flowers can be purchased for $2 each, with the money also going towards breast cancer.
The only out-of-town team out of the eight participating will be the Dragon Tamers from Kenora, who are made up exclusively of breast cancer survivors and supporters.
When they’re not racing, the Tamers will be selling pink dessert treats as a breast cancer fundraiser.
“Anyone on hand who has any questions or wants more information on breast cancer is certainly welcome to talk to that team’s members about it,” stated Thorstad.
The Fort Frances Highlanders will lead the parade of boaters down to the water, with Piper Lidkea set to sing both national anthems.
Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis and International Falls council president pro-term Brian Briggs, filling in for Mayor Bob Anderson, will then do the traditional “dotting of the eyes” of the two dragon heads that go on the boats before the first race.
The idea behind the ceremony is to “awaken the dragons–and bring prosperity to the participating communities.”
Thorstad said a few more paddlers are being sought to fill out some of the teams and anyone interested doesn’t need to have previously paddled.
Those wanting to get involved in the races can e-mail Thorstad at dragonboatff@gmail.com.
After the races, there will be a tug-of-war competition between dragon boats in which racers and spectators are welcome to take part, with a $5 fee to join in the action.
