To raise funds for the fight against breast cancer, paddlers from both sides of the border participated in the 6th anniversary of the FDJ International Dragon Boats for the Cure Festival held in July 2008 at Sandpoint Beach, Windsor.

This year, 78 teams participated in the international 450-metre boat race with in-sync paddlers sitting two-by-two propelling 40-foot boats across the finish line. Based in Windsor, Ontario the FDJ International Dragon Boats for the Cure is a major benefactor of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital (HDGH) with an initial pledge of $244,000 to purchase a breast MRI, benefiting those diagnosed with breast cancer.

In a recent letter to Gerry Orum, Chair of the FDJ International Dragon Boats for the Cure, from Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation's Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications and Philanthropy, Ron Foster states, "It is impressive to report that almost $900,000 has been committed from the FDJ Dragon Boats For The Cure to Windsor Regional Hospital. This includes your continued pledge commitment of $445,000 forthcoming." To date, the Dragon Boats for the Cure festival funds have been used toward the purchase of a Full-Field Mammography System; a Mammotone machine; Core Biopsy System and most recently, the complete funding for a new General Electric Senographe Full-Field Digital Mammography System.

"It is only through the support of the Dragon Boat event that this acquisition is possible but the support does not end there. The event organizers continue to find innovative ways to make patients of our Diagnostic Imaging Department feel at ease during a stressful time. In 2007, Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital and Windsor Regional Hopital were privileged to have beautifully embroidered pink smocks donated. This acts as a subtle reminder to each woman facing a test of great importance, that she is not alone. The comments received from patients wearing the smocks, attests to this very experience."

The FDJ International Dragon Boats for the Cure's commitment and dedication inspired hospital staff to support the festival by participating in five Dragon Boat teams: Nauti Buoys, Renal Rebels, Donna's Dream Team, Abreast of Technology and Polynesian Dragon Hearts (of which Nauti Buoys placed First in the E Division Semi Finals with a time of 02:21.33.) Gerry Orum thinks back to the inaugural race, "In 2002, (the clothing supplier) French Dressing Jeanswear approached Beth Noakes (owner of Top Drawer Casuals), who then approached me, about developing a fundraising event that would help Windsor and other cities internationally, raise funds for breast cancer.



A year later, we held the first Dragon Boats for the Cure race. Our success over the past years is by and large due to the paddlers and sponsors. The support is overwhelming-there are two local teams called The WonderBroads and A Breast or Knot who have raced every year!" Next year, Orum hopes to expand team participation into the local high schools as well as raise money for other forms of cancer in addition to their main goal, breast cancer. "We take a lot of pride in our success and, now, we have a million reasons to smile since we raised an upwards of $1,000,000."