By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR A stream of people dressed in pink entered Mercer County Park Lake on Sunday, June 3, as 44 dragon boat teams and their supporters participated in the Paddle for Pink festival and dragon boat races to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
The event was hosted by the Machestic Dragons, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team from Princeton. Funds from the event benefited the Machestic Dragons and the Breast Cancer Resource Center at the YWCA in Princeton.
”This is a great event because it provides therapy on a boat instead of in a classroom,” said Barry Howard, a member of the dragon boat team Save our Sisters.
Of the 44 teams that participated in the races, nine teams were comprised of breast cancer survivors.
”After radiation and chemotherapy, dragon boat racing is great because it promotes team sprit between people who have been in the same boat,” said Trudie Howard, a breast cancer survivor also on team SOS.
According to Judith Arnold, a board member of the Machestic Dragons, dragon boat teams of breast cancer survivors began after Dr. Donald McKenzie’s research found that upper body exercise is beneficial for those recovering from breast cancer. Before this research, it was believed that upper body workouts were harmful to breast cancer survivors.
According to the Paddle for Pink Website, a dragon boat is a Chinese canoe that is about 40 feet long with a dragon head at the front of the boat and a tail at the back. Each boat has 20 paddlers and a drummer and steerer.”The impetuous for beginning the Machestic Dragons was regaining personal power after a debilitating illness,” said Annie Carricato, vice president of the Machestic Dragons. “Paddling can really restore your energy almost immediately and then helps rebuild muscles that were damaged.”
Other Paddle for Pink participants who were not personally affected by breast cancer also recognized the benefits of the festival.
”I came out to support my friends paddling with Princeton Chinese school,” said Eileen Wilber, a spectator from Lawrenceville. “So far I think it’s great. It’s for a good cause and it’s a perfect day.”
The perfect day and weather were interrupted by a quick thunderstorm, and races were stalled for about 30 minutes. After the storm passed, however, races resumed and winners began to emerge.
After the races finished, gold medals were handed out to Against the Wind from Philadelphia in the breast cancer survivors and supporters division, Paddlestar Galactica from Mercer County in the community open division, the NYPD Dragon Queens from New York in the all-women division, the DC Dragons from Washington D.C. in the club-mixed division and the Bosom Buddies from Hunterdon Central High School in the educators division.
”It’s not about winning, but we like to be competitive,” said Bruce Roeloffs, captain of the winning team Paddlestar Galactica. “It’s nice cheering for the other teams too and I think the event raises everyone’s awareness of breast cancer and brings a lot of people together. We will definitely be back next year for more fun.”
Paddle for Pink not only raises peoples’ awareness, but it also raises funds for breast cancer organizations. BCRC program coordinator, Laura Martin said BCRC received $10,000 from last years’ Paddle for Pink event.
”The funds from Paddle for Pink really help us because we don’t charge for our services,” said Ms. Martin.
Ms. Martin said funds from the event are used for things like wigs, hats, breast prostheses and mastectomy bras. The funds also help support BCRC’s many programs such as support groups and exercise and wellness programs.
The Machestic Dragons also use a portion of the funds raised from Paddle for Pink for new equipment and scholarships for members.
”I think the event went very well,” said Linda Cannon, a board member of the Machestic Dragons. “We did well in the 50-50 raffle and silent auction and our bake sale raised some money. Everyone had a good time, which is the most important.”

