1600 paddlers set to compete August 8th

Witness the competition, color and pageantry as 1600 racers paddle for glory in Burlington’s fifth annual Citizens Bank, Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday, August 8 at Burlington’s Waterfront Park. Cheer on 72 Vermont community teams and 4 Breast Cancer Survivor teams from the U.S. and Canada as they compete in 300-meter sprint races to benefit Vermont’s Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for kids with cancer, and Dragonheart Vermont.

Races, food and festivities begin at 8:00AM and last all day long. Each race features 5-6 lanes of colorful dragon boats carrying 21 paddlers each and will start every 12 minutes until the champion team is crowned in the final sprint for glory at 4:30pm.

It’s an all-day celebration with lots of free fun for the whole family.  Entertainment includes Burlington’s Taiko Drummers, Sambatucada, Maiden Vermont and the Jeh Kulu Drummers.  Bid high on a huge selection of silent auction items. Raffles, unique merchandise, children’s crafts and fabulous food combine to create an exciting, fun filled day for all.  At noon a traditional flower ceremony performed by the breast cancer survivor teams will honor the spirit of those who have died from breast cancer.

Pledge Partner

Camp Ta-Kum-Ta  lost its home of 25 years in 2008 and must raise money to build new camp facilities in South Hero. Proceeds from the festival will support a new activities cabin for arts, crafts, music and a community space. Last year’s festival raised $110,000 for the Camp and the Dragonheart team hopes to raise the final construction costs this year.

According to Dragonheart Executive Director, Linda Dyer, “This is a great celebration of life! Our breast cancer survivor teams are an inspiration to watch, and the community bonds together for an amazing day of fund raising for  kids with cancer and Vermont breast cancer survivors, all  facing the toughest battle of their lives”.

Environmentally Friendly Festival

The festival is going green again this year with a program guide created into a dual purpose 2011 calendar. Blue Cross Blue Shield is sponsoring a water truck to fill bottles while composting bins provided by CSWD will be posted throughout the festival grounds. Burlington’s  Local Motion will staff a bike valet to cut down on car traffic.

A Spirited Event

Community teams are made up of friends, families, and co-workers who have joined together for this charity event. Teams dress up in wild costumes and perform creative team cheers and songs.

States Dyer, “The enthusiasm for our festival has been phenomenal. It speaks volumes about the generosity of the people in our community who give to this event by racing, volunteering, sponsoring, and donating to our cause. It makes me feel blessed to be a part of our Vermont community.”

Dragonheart Vermont, festival host, is proud to have Citizens Bank as the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Lake Champlain Ferries, Select Design, and Dwight Asset Management with media sponsorship from WCAX-TV and WOKO-FM.

The festival is free but donations are encouraged. Visit www.ridethedragon.org for complete festival information.

Quotes from past participants:

Ashley Sullivan

"Paddling in the Dragon Boat Festival last year with my family and my dad who is a cancer survivor was such a memorable experience.   We were eager to paddle again this summer and decided to step in up a notch and become community sponsors of the event and organize our own team.  Unfortunately cancer is a disease that directly or indirectly will affect all of us in our life time if it hasn' t already! Funds raised through the Dragon Boat Festival is making a huge difference for people with cancer and their families in our local community. Paddle a boat, cheer on your favorite team or just supporting the festival is a great way that you can help too! "

Drew Lepple, Captain:  NRG Wind Dragons

“The LCDBF is the one Burlington community event of the year that really brings the waterfront alive.  2000 + paddlers from Vermont, New England, Canada, and beyond decend upon Burlington’s waterfront to race for a very worthy cause.  Together everyone has spent months and months of fund raising leading up to the big race day that is really a celebration of all their efforts.  One really has to witness for themselves how an all day  festival of this size can run so smoothly and be so organized that no matter what Mother Nature has to offer that day, a good time is had by all.   Thank You DragonHeart Vermont for making this happen!”

Pam Fontaine, Captain of the Jazzin' Dragons

“Teamwork, challenge, recognition, support is what we all need in many aspects of life.  Helping others in a fun filled way is the best reward on multiple levels.  As a local business owner, and someone who has experienced different forms of cancer through family members and friends, I encourage you to come and connect with others who in some way have been touched by cancer.  If you cannot paddle, volunteer for this great event!”

Margaret Murphy, Lake Champlain Ferries

"2010 will be our 4th year participating in the Dragon Boat Festival.  Our team has a blast and always looks forward to race day.  Such a fun and wonderfully organized event – not to mention a great cause!"

Heather Ferguson, Captain of Fire-Birthing Dragons team (FAHC Birthing Center)

The dragonboat festival means so many things to me.  Not only is it fun and crazy, but it is also near and dear to my heart.  Each year I paddle hard for my beautiful mother who died after a tough battle with ovarian cancer.  Her light and spirit is what the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival is all about.”