Festival Chair Michelle Thornton reflects on 25 years of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival

For 25 years, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has united the community in a powerful show of support for cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Thanks to the dedication of the Festival Organizing Committee, host team Survivors Abreast, and so many participating paddlers, volunteers, sponsors and donors, the Festival has raised more than $4.9 million in donations to the PRHC Foundation—helping fund vital equipment and technology that keeps cancer care close to home.

Now, as the Festival prepares to celebrate its silver anniversary on Saturday, June 13 at Del Crary Park, organizers are hoping to surpass the $5 million milestone.

We spoke with 2026 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival Chair, Michelle Thornton, about her personal connection to the event, the impact it has had on cancer care in our region and what makes this year’s celebration especially meaningful…

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival. How long have you been involved with the Festival and what first inspired you to join?

Michelle: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. Luckily it was caught early and surgery at Peterborough Regional Health Centre was the only treatment I needed. I had my operation that September and joined Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat team in November. I attended my first Festival in 2015 as a brand-new paddler. I remember being in the boat thinking—because in the beginning after diagnosis, all you think about is cancer—but I remember being in the boat thinking, “I’m focusing on paddling and I’m not thinking about anything else.” It was great! Then in 2017, I was approached by one of the founding members of the Festival to become Chair. Carol Mutton offered to co-chair with me as a bit of an incentive. It’s a really rewarding experience. I’ve met some amazing people along the way, made some great friends and heard some really inspiring stories.

You attended your first Festival in 2015, and now—more than a decade later—you’re chairing the Festival’s silver anniversary. What is it about this event that continues to inspire your commitment year after year?

Michelle: When I first came to the 2015 Festival, it really opened my eyes. I thought the government paid for hospital equipment and technology. It dawned on me that it was events like the Dragon Boat Festival that helped fund the equipment that helped diagnose me at PRHC. I realized then that this was way bigger than me. Being a part of this event is a way to give back and also pay it forward for somebody in the future. This is a huge community event that does a lot of good and can make a real difference in someone’s life. Along the road, I’ve met some amazing volunteers and committee members that keep coming back every year. They truly inspire me to keep going.

Beyond the excitement and community spirit, this Festival has a very real impact on cancer care in our region. Why is supporting PRHC Foundation through events like this so important to you personally?

Michelle: The thing is, I had my surgery at PRHC. My family was able to be with me without having to travel, so I know how important it is that care is close to home as much as possible. I actually did a deep dive in terms of all the equipment that has been fundraised with the money Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has raised and it’s just, it’s amazing. You know, we’ve replaced mammogram machines, ultrasounds, we supported new CT scanners, an additional MRI… The list goes on. The Festival has really touched every part of the cancer care spectrum at PRHC. Our mandate is breast cancer, but really the equipment that we fundraise for supports all cancer care. I think everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer. The Festival’s contribution is significant and it’s important. I’m really proud of these accomplishments and what we’ve managed to do to help our regional hospital over the 25 years.

The Festival has raised nearly $5 million for cancer care at PRHC. This year’s fundraising goal is especially meaningful. Can you explain the significance behind the number $325,018.01?

Michelle: This year we increased our goal by 25%, so it’s $325,018.01. The 25 reflects the 2 out of 5 Canadians who will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. The 18 is for the 1 in 8 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer and the .01 is the percentage of men who will be diagnosed with breast cancer. So, all of the numbers mean something.

As you look ahead to this milestone Festival on Saturday, June 13, what are you most looking forward to on race day?

Michelle: We have five out-of-town survivor teams coming to help us celebrate this year, which is significant. So, the flower ceremony is going to be special. It’s a really festive day, although the purpose is a serious one, we make it fun. We have a beer garden and a Festival branded merchandise tent. There’s a petting zoo, games for the kids, face painting. The food and artisan vendors are amazing. And really, it’s the atmosphere. It’s electric. You can feel it, people are high-fiving and smiling, there’s music, and they’re hugging. It’s a community that comes together to make a difference, and you can really feel that connectivity. I get shivers thinking about it and my passion just grows as I visualize it.

Community generosity is advancing cardiac care at PRHC

Experts at Peterborough Regional Health Centre recently performed the first-ever Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) procedure in the hospital’s donor-funded Cardiac Cath Lab. It’s another important milestone on the journey towards full-service cardiac care at PRHC and it would not have been possible without donor support.

Through the Campaign for PRHC, donors invested $3.55 million to renovate and upgrade PRHC’s two cardiac cath lab suites with state-of-the-art technology. Not only are these advancements making cardiac care faster and safer, but they’re supporting lifesaving services not previously available at PRHC. 

Until recently, patients who needed an ICD procedure had to travel to Kingston or Toronto for care. Today, patients can receive this lifesaving treatment at PRHC, close to home and surrounded by loved ones, thanks to the donor-funded Cath Lab facilities.

An ICD is a small battery-operated device placed under the left or right collarbone with leads inserted into the heart to monitor its rhythm. If a life-threatening change occurs, the ICD can automatically shock the heart back into a safe rhythm, even if the patient is unconscious and alone.

For patients living with serious cardiac conditions, having access to this procedure close to home can be life-changing.

“It’s extremely exciting to see another example of how donor generosity coupled with PRHC’s vision and the skills of its doctors, nurses and staff can so significantly transform patient care,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of PRHC Foundation. “Donor investment in building PRHC’s capability and capacity to transition to a comprehensive cardiac care program has enabled the introduction of ICD insertion right here, close to home. We’re incredibly grateful to every single donor who’s been a part of this ongoing journey. Thank you!”

PRHC’s first ICD procedure was successfully performed by Dr. Heather Cox in March 2026, with support and training provided through collaboration with University Health Network. PRHC is now the only hospital between Kingston and Scarborough offering this surgery.

For PRHC Foundation donor Jim Neill, whose visionary philanthropy inspired so many others to support the future of cardiac care in our region through the Campaign for PRHC, this latest advancement reflects the incredible impact a community can have when it comes together.

“The new lifesaving treatments coming to PRHC will once again change the face of cardiac care in our region,” says Mr. Neill. “I’m glad that my commitment is helping ‘keep our hearts here’ as PRHC builds on a donor-funded cardiac care foundation, on its way to a third cardiac lab and ultimately a full-service heart centre. I’m honoured to be part of the tradition of philanthropy that has supported this hospital since the beginning. I hope that my donation and what it’s helping to make possible will encourage and inspire others, as the donors who have come before have inspired me.”

“What you’ve done means so much”

For years, Jessica endured a deep pain and “heaviness” in her pelvis. It worsened over time and with each pregnancy. “I’m a busy mom of three, was in my early 40s, and working full time,” she says. “I assumed it was my new normal.”

An exam and medical imaging for an unrelated issue led to an answer to the years of pain. Jessica was diagnosed with severe pelvic congestion syndrome, a chronic condition linked to blood flow that causes pelvic veins to swell and twist.

Doctors were able to offer relief through a procedure that could be done quickly in the new, donor-funded interventional radiology suites. “I was grateful when I learned there was a
procedure that could treat it, available right here at PRHC. I don’t think I could have travelled out of town,” she says.

In November, Jessica underwent a minimally invasive pelvic vein embolization with interventional radiologist Dr. Fady Abdelsayed in one of the three advanced suites. “From the
moment I arrived, I felt safe and cared for,” she recalls. “The space was bright, open and calming, and I couldn’t believe the tiny tools that were used through just one small incision to block off the veins.” The team explained each step with the state-of-art technology and ensured she was comfortable. 

Having delivered her children at PRHC and donated to Foundation initiatives, Jessica says the hospital has long been part of her story. “I trust the people at PRHC because they’re part of my community,” she says. And she reiterates that it’s thanks to donors that she didn’t have to travel far from home for that personalized, life-changing care.

“I went in on a Friday and was at work Tuesday without much pain,” Jessica says. Soon she was back to running, hiking and camping. “I realized the huge change in my quality of life, what
it’s like to do the things I love with the people I love without pain,” she says. “I have so much appreciation for the donors who made this possible. What you’ve done means so much to me, to the people who will receive care here. You’ve made all the difference for us.”

For more information on your impact, please call 705-876-5000.

The innovative technology of a donor-funded hybrid OR isn’t optional, it’s essential

As a Level 2 vascular centre serving a regional population of 600,000, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is ready to raise its level of excellence in vascular care with a state-of-the-art hybrid operating room (OR). It’s a $6 million priority of the Campaign for PRHC that’s essential to patient care and donors can help bring it to our hospital.

Vascular disease is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Canada. Patients often face multiple serious conditions at once, requiring complex, time-sensitive care. Each year, experts at PRHC perform more than 1,000 vascular procedures, with nearly three-quarters of patients travelling from outside Peterborough City and County to receive care at PRHC. For these patients and their families, timely access to advanced surgical care close to home is vital—preventing strokes and loss of limbs.

Now, patients who need multiple vascular procedures undergo each one and its recovery separately. If there will be a need for real-time medical imaging during surgery, the range of procedures that can be performed is limited due to the image quality of the current onsite diagnostic tools. This results in patients being referred to other hospitals where they’ll wait longer to receive the care they need.

An alternative exists: A hybrid OR combines a fully equipped surgical suite with advanced medical imaging in one, bigger space. There, specialized teams can perform multiple open and minimally invasive procedures in one surgical session with access to high resolution imaging. But PRHC is one of only a handful of Ontario’s Level 2 vascular centres without a hybrid OR. When having one is the standard of care, not having it means challenges recruiting surgeons who’ve trained on the technology and sending patients elsewhere for care, putting patients and PRHC’s vascular program at risk.

“In medical school I had access to a hybrid OR. It allows me to operate on patients safely, with extreme precision,” says Dr. Sajjid Hossain, PRHC vascular surgeon. “In vascular surgery, technology isn’t optional. It’s essential to care. A lot of the time patients come to us in life-threatening scenarios where minutes matter. Being able to access state-of-the-art imaging and advanced technologies is a difference between saving a life, saving a limb, or losing both. This is what vascular surgery should be.”

PRHC agrees and has self-funded the creation of the space in the hospital building to enable the hybrid OR. The PRHC Foundation is committed to raising the $6 million needed to outfit the space with its cutting-edge equipment.

“A hybrid OR is vital for the future of patient care at PRHC,” says Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO. “Donor support will ensure patients from across our region can receive their lifesaving care close to home.” A hybrid OR will also help reduce patient wait times and help treat more patients, safely and efficiently, with better results. 

For Dr. Hossain and PRHC, the need is clear. But he realizes it can’t be resolved without support from generous donors. “When I came to Peterborough, I learned that crucial equipment and technology is funded by donors. That was eye-opening. Since then I’ve been regularly surprised and touched by the generosity of this community,” says Dr. Hossain. “People here really stand behind their healthcare professionals. Thank you so much.”

For more information or to donate, please call 705-876-5000 or click here.

Welcoming the New Year with gratitude for you

We’re grateful for your generosity and for everything you’ve helped make possible for patients from across our region in 2025.

It’s thanks to your steadfast support that the Campaign for PRHC has raised an outstanding $58.8 million as of June 30, 2025, reaching 84% of our $70 million goal. As we approach the New Year, we celebrate this milestone with gratitude and look forward to what we can achieve together in the months ahead.

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Celebrating donors’ $6 million reimagination of interventional radiology at PRHC

On December 9, 2025, donors gathered at Peterborough Regional Health Centre with the PRHC Foundation and members of the hospital’s leadership team to celebrate the official completion of the Campaign for PRHC’s $6 million investment in interventional radiology (IR) made possible by the generosity of our regional community.

Guests toured the bright, modern spaces where PRHC’s IR team now performs some of today’s most advanced minimally invasive procedures. It was an opportunity to see the new, cutting-edge technology and better understand the impact that donations are having on patient care at PRHC.

“This is a transformative moment for patient care at PRHC,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “Because of you, the Health Centre’s experts have the advanced tools and space they need to perform even more complex, minimally invasive procedures right here, while innovating for the future. Thank you!”

Interventional radiology is a fast-growing field. Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, PRHC Interventional Radiologist says, “Interventional radiology is the future of medicine. Using real-time imaging technologies such as CT, X-ray and ultrasound, we perform procedures through a tiny incision, using only needles, wires, and catheters. This means less pain, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays compared to conventional surgery. We’re so grateful to the donors for their generosity. Their support means we can deliver even better care in our region.”

The renovation and upgrade were made possible through a multi-year fundraising effort championed by grateful patient ambassadors, PRHC’s interventional radiologists, nurses and medical radiation technologists, hospital leadership, and donors from across the region. This collaboration raised an extraordinary $6 million to expand PRHC’s two existing IR suites, replace out-of-date equipment with state-of-the-art imaging technology, and add a third suite dedicated to rapid, high-demand procedures. The preparation and recovery area was also expanded to accommodate 14 patients instead of ten.

Before this advancement, PRHC’s five interventional radiologists, who work on a 24/7 rotation, were already performing more than 6,000 procedures a year. Now, on a typical day, they’re equipped to care for 20 to 25 patients suffering from critical conditions such as cancer, stroke, organ failure, bleeding and trauma, among others.

As a regional hospital, PRHC’s IR team supports a population of more than 300,000 people across Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Peterborough, and North Hastings County. With the new suites, PRHC is better positioned to meet the growing regional demand for minimally invasive care, enhance patient outcomes, continue attracting and retaining top medical talent, and pave the way for the future introduction of new minimally invasive treatment options.

“Donor vision and support have once again proven to be a driving force behind innovation at PRHC,” says Dr. Lynn Mikula, President & CEO of PRHC. “Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible for patients from across our region. Thank you so much.”