Dragon Boat Races raise $250,000 for cancer research
The 12th annual Dragon Boat Races in Tecumseh drew thousands on the weekend.
Windsor's International Dragon Boat for the Cure boasted 90 teams and more than 2,000 paddlers.
Close to $250,000 was raised for breast cancer research here in Windsor-Essex.
Gerry Orum, one of the event's founders, says the impact has been noticeable, and very inspiring.
"When you see these women, who are breast cancer survivors, how tough they are, how much they're enjoying life ... that's what really gets you going," he said. "When we do our rose ceremony, and it's out there, you can't get any better than that."
Of the 90 teams gathered at the lake, it's practically impossible to find a squad without a personal connection to breast cancer.
Jodi Cunningham is captain of the Sugar Shakers boat. It was their 6th year at the race.
"We are here because I lost family members to breast cancer and we also have a survivor on our team," she said. "It's very overwhelming how much support they do have out there. It's just a beautiful thing to see.
In it's dozen years -- Dragon Boat for the Cure has drummed up around $2.7 million for screening and treatment machinery at local hospitals.
Orum said each year becomes a little more emotional.
