Hearts Warmed on a Chilly Autumn Day!

New Glasgow- The winds may have been crisp during the official cheque presentation by the Pictou County Dragon Boat Festival Committee, but hearts were warm! On Friday, November 14th, organizers of the Dragon Boat Festival made it official, when they turned over just under $95,000 in pledge donations raised during Race on the River 2003, to three charities.

Primary benefactors, Women Alike Breast Cancer Support Group. Secondary benefactors Pictou & Guysborough County Chapters of the Nova Scotia Special Olympics, and the Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund all were on hand to graciously accept and give thanks to all those who helped organize the Festival and the many teams and participants involved.
President of Women Alike, Barb Davis accepted on the groups behalf “…the dollars received are most welcome in regard to exciting ongoing breast cancer research and enabling the local Women Alike Dragon Boat team to participate more fully in Festivals both near and far”. The aim of the Women Alike Breast Cancer Support Group is to raise public awareness about breast cancer and breast cancer issues, to become more physically fit, to improve mental well being and to give support to others living with breast cancer. The Pictou and Colchester County Chapters of the Nova Scotia Special Olympics are part of a worldwide organization that provides sports training and competitive opportunities to people with a mental disability. Nova Scotia Special Olympics enhances the quality of life of persons who are mentally challenged through the quality delivery of sport training and competition, recreation and social opportunities. Gloria DeMars from Special Olympics in Truro said “the recent development of a special Olympians floor hockey team, with necessary equipment purchases, was made possible only through the support of the Festival”. Rob McMahon, Chairperson of The Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund was also on hand, citing “the amateur sport fund relies on donors and sponsors for its funding and dollars raised by the community come back to those communities”.
Plans are already underway for another Festival in 2004, an exact date will be forthcoming in the future. Meanwhile, the Dragon sleeps through another winter only to awaken in due time for the next Pictou County Dragon Boat Festival, Race on the River.

Contact:
Shawna Coleman
Marketing/Communications
Race on the River, Pictou County Dragon Boat Festival
(902) 396.3054
(902) 928.8959 cellular
shawnacoleman@lycos.com

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