October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the perfect time to celebrate the contributions of the Dragon Flies Dragon Boat crew to breast cancer awareness in our region. For the fourth year, the Dragon Flies are dividing the proceeds of their annual Dragon Boat Festival in Port Perry between four area hospitals, including the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay.

The Dragon Flies crew is a group of breast cancer survivors from the City of Kawartha Lakes, Port Perry and Uxbridge. Their Festival raised a total of $131,612.28 in total, which means each hospital is receiving $26,322.46 to be used for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.  

Erin Coons, Executive Director of the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation, accepted the Dragon Flies donation from crew member and Ross employee, Nancy Hanna. "We're so appreciative of the Dragon Flies' efforts," said Coons. "Their commitment to the breast cancer cause is inspirational. Every year, there are several teams of Ross Memorial Hospital employees who take part in their Festival - last year seven teams participated. Nancy and her crew-mates are to be commended for their dedication. It's so wonderful that the Dragon Flies are helping the Hospital to realize its goal of one day having Digital Mammography."

The Dragon Flies Dragon Boat Festival at Palmer Park on June 21st attracted 52 teams consisting of 1300 paddlers. Hundreds of volunteers, family members, supporters and friends helped the event run smoothly.