This dragon boat festival will turn Mercer Lake pink. It’s a sight that spectators will never forget.
Join the crowd at Mercer Park Marina for the "Paddle for Pink" Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival will be hosted by the Machestic Dragons, a local team of breast cancer survivors and supporters who have paddled together for six years, raising breast cancer awareness and demonstrating that women affected by breast cancer can lead healthy, active lives.
There will be 250-meter races for both community teams and breast cancer survivor teams coming from Philadelphia, Washington, and many other areas of the Northeast throughout the day. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes will be in attendance, and West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh will issue a proclamation. Spectators can enjoy the races as well as dragon boat rides, Chinese lion dances, an eye-dotting ceremony to "wake the dragon boats" and bring good luck to the paddlers, and a pink carnation ceremony to remember those touched by breast cancer who are no longer with us.
Although dragon boats have been around in China for more than 2000 years, the sport has gone worldwide in the last 25 years, with new teams forming every season. A dragon boat is a Chinese canoe about 40 feet long, with 10 seats that hold two paddlers each. At the front of the canoe is a dragon’s head at the back, of course, is its tail. Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors began in 1995 and these "floating support groups" are established in many cities throughout the Unitd States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.
Members of the community are encouraged not just to attend "Paddle for Pink," but to sign up to paddle. as well. No experience is necessary. All lifejackets, paddles and boats are provided by the race coordinator. Participants can form a full team of 20 paddlers, or register a partial team, or register as individuals and be put on a team prior to race day so they can practice with their teammates. Each team gets two practices prior to race day included in the entry fee $30 per paddler or $600 per team. For a registration form or to obtain more information, visit www.paddleforpink.org.
The Machestic Dragons will donate all proceeds from "Paddle for Pink" to the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) of the YWCA Princeton to support its wellness program that offers activities water wellness, gentle yoga, healing through creativity, a survivors’ retreat designed specifically for women affected by breast cancer.
For more information about BCRC, call (609) 497-2100, ext. 346 or 349, or visit www.bcrcnj.org.
