If you have never experienced a Dragon Boat Festival, mark your calendar for Sunday, June 6, and take part in a memorable event.
Mercer County Park Marina, West Windsor, is the site for “Paddle for Pink.” the fourth annual Dragon Boat Festival charity event. This fundraiser is supported by hundreds of area residents and businesses, all to benefit women and families affected by breast cancer. The Machestic Dragons, New Jerseys first breast cancer survivor’s dragon boat team, presents this community event to benefit The Breast Cancer Resource Center at The YWCA Princeton, where there is never a charge for services.
More then just dragon boat races, the festival boasts live entertainment including drumming, music, dance, foods, ceremonies, dragon boat rides for children, prizes, a cash raffle, and a silent auction. This will be a fun gathering for a high purpose: building awareness of breast cancer. More then 40 teams will compete in the all-day event. There are eight teams of educators from area schools competing for medals. Some 12 teams of community folks from in and around Mercer County have come together to support this cause. There are two youth teams, also eight all-women teams, seven breast cancer survivor teams and four dragon boat clubs have all registered to paddle.
Panera Bread, at its Nassau Street location in Princeton, and Nassau Park, West Windsor, has generously donated food and gifts to make the festival extraordinary. Panera Bread will provide breakfast and lunch for volunteers. The main sponsor for the third year is sanofi aventis – US; without this support, the event could not take place.
The cost for entering a team of 22 paddlers is $800 or $40 for individuals.
The Machestics want to let you know there is still time to enter and participate in this event. To register for “Paddle for Pink,” go to www.paddleforpink.org or call 732-890-6136.
There is always plenty of free parking in the lake area of Mercer County Park Marina. There is no charge for spectators to enjoy the activities and cheer on the dragon boat teams from the shore.
If you are interested in joining the Machestic Dragons, you need not be a breast cancer survivor; the team welcomes supporters. Visit www.machesticdragons.org.
Rally for the Cure golf
The Women’s Golf League of the Princeton Country Club will sponsor its 14th annual Rally for the Cure Golf Outing on Tuesday, June 14. The Rally for the Cure is a grassroots organization that works to spread awareness about breast health and breast cancer.
The first Rally for the Cure Outing hosted by the PCCWGL was held in 1997. Each year the outing has increased in the number of golfers and also in the amount of money donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Over the last four years, approximately $8,000 has been raised.
All golfers, men and women, are welcome to participate in the Rally. The format is a team scramble with prizes awarded to low gross, low net, closest to the pin, straightest drive, longest drive and a special hole in one contest. Golf registration fee is $70, and includes green fee, lunch, contests and prizes, in addition to a $20 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Sponsorships this year include generous donations from Platinum Sponsor, BlackRock, Inc., Hole in One Sponsor, Paulie’s Anna Rose Restaurant in Ewing, and a special donation from Roma Bank.
An enthusiastic group of women serve on the event committee. In order to make it more profitable, the committee is seeking additional corporate or individual sponsors and also gift certificates, products or services that can be awarded as prizes. For other sponsorship and golf registration information, go to the league’s website http:// pccwgl.webege.com, or contact Sandy Oropel, Co-Chair at [email protected] or 609-658-3796.
The Princeton Country Club Women’s Golf League was organized in 1995 by 15 women, many of whom are still actively playing. This year’s roster has 34 active and two honorary members. The League meets every Tuesday from April to early October at the Princeton Country Club located at 1 Wheeler Way in Princeton. The Princeton Country Club is operated by the Mercer County Park Commission.
League members can expect friendly competitive golf, weekly tournaments, good exercise and the camaraderie of the members. The league membership encompasses a wide range of handicaps from the low handicapped “A Flight” golfer to the higher handicapped “B Flight” golfer. Foursomes are determined each week by a combination of arrival time and flight.
An end of season luncheon is held annually. At that time, Club Championship, as determined over three competitive rounds, is awarded to low gross and low net in each flight. The Most Improved Golfer is given an award dedicated to Fran Potkay, one of the league founders. Members also receive prizes for birdies, chip-ins, and accumulated points earned during weekly tournaments.

