Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has reached an extraordinary milestone, surpassing $5 million raised in support of cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre over its 25-year history.
On October 27, the PRHC Foundation welcomed members of the Festival Planning Committee, the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team, Platinum Sponsor Kawartha Financial Services, paddlers, volunteers and supporters to celebrate another successful Festival and the incredible legacy built by this community event over a quarter century.
This year’s Festival raised $382,518.01, bringing the total raised since the Festival began in 2001 to more than $5 million.
“Our story is a story about hope, passion, dedication, community and fun! But in the beginning, it was just a few hopeful and determined breast cancer survivors and their supporters, trying to raise awareness, have fun and make a bit of a difference in someone’s life,” says Michelle Thornton, Festival Chair. “Now, this is a tremendously large fundraiser for a single day event. And the fact that people continue every year to support it at this level is a wonderful testament to this community and how much we care about the health of our friends and family.”
“What an incredible moment and what a wonderful way to celebrate this milestone for Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “Twenty-five years and more than $5 million raised is a remarkable feat and one this community should be immensely proud of. Year after year, you have come together to paddle, to hope, to help and to make a difference for patients at PRHC.”
The impact of that generosity continues to grow as the need for cancer care increases. PRHC saw more than 23,000 cancer patient visits last year and its cancer programs serve a regional population of more than 600,000 people. Money raised through Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has helped PRHC invest in state-of-the-art technology and equipment.
Those investments include cutting-edge CT scanners, breast seed localization for more precise breast cancer surgery, state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, advanced 3-D mammography machines, new breast ultrasound and radiologist workstations, among many others.
The donation raised through this year’s Festival will help fund three important priorities at the Health Centre that support the spectrum of cancer care: an interventional radiology ultrasound, contrast-enhanced biopsy technology and the replacement of an anesthesia machine. Together, these advanced technologies will help enable earlier and more precise diagnosis, less invasive procedures and safer treatment for cancer patients.
“As cancer patient visits continue to increase year after year, the need for timely, expert cancer care has never been greater,” says Dr. Rola Shaheen, radiologist at PRHC and Regional Breast and Cancer Imaging Lead for the Central East Regional Cancer Program, who spoke at the celebration to thank the Festival for its generous support. “Your generosity is helping bring state-of-the-art technology and equipment into our hospital, technology that can make diagnosis more precise, procedures less invasive, surgery safer and ultimately make a patient’s experience during a very difficult time, more comfortable and less stressful, with better results.”
The Festival’s legacy of hope, philanthropy and impact on patient care is an amazing example of what happens when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
“Twenty-five years doesn’t happen by accident,” says Lesley. “It happens because people care deeply and because people like Festival Chair Michelle Thornton, the Festival Planning Committee and the Survivors Abreast team keep bringing this community together in support of cancer care at our regional hospital.”
“On behalf of the PRHC Foundation, PRHC and the thousands of patients and families who rely on our regional hospital: thank you. Exceptional, compassionate cancer care at PRHC couldn’t happen without you. You’re all part of this wonderful milestone.”
Planning has already started for next year’s event. Mark your calendars, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival returns to Little Lake on June 12, 2027.