A cancer research fundraiser featuring boats gliding through Nanaimo’s harbour will celebrate two decades.
The Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary when the event takes place July 8-9 at Maffeo Sutton Park.
According to a press release from Fairway Gorge Paddling Club, the non-profit responsible for the event, the weekend’s festivities will include food, cultural performances and the races, all benefiting the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation and the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The event will be held alongside Crimson Coast Dance Society’s 25th Infringing Dance Festival.
An integral part of the festival will be the breast cancer survivors’ dragon boat race challenge, which is expected to have seven survivor teams. A carnation ceremony July 8 at 12:15 p.m., in memory of people who have died of cancer, will be one of the festival’s poignant moments.
“We’re looking forward to a weekend of great racing, great entertainment and cultural events, and lots of fun and fellowship,” said Kyle Chow, club senior manager of operations and events, in the press release. “We expect thousands of people to come to the event, grab some food and possibly a beer, see some racing, enjoy music and dance, and help in the fight against cancer.”
Races will go 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 8 and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 9.
For more information, including how to donate to the festival’s ‘need for speed’ campaign, visit www.nanaimodragonboat.com.
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karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
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