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Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has once again made waves for local healthcare, donating a record $400,104.01 to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation (PRHCF) in support of cancer care close to home.
Volunteers from the festival organizing committee and the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team presented the cheque to PRHCF representatives following the festival’s 24th edition, which drew 73 teams and more than 1,400 paddlers to Little Lake in June.
“I am in awe of the community’s enthusiasm, generosity and desire to make such a big difference for our hospital, our community and the people we love,” said Festival Chair Michelle Thornton, noting over 3,700 individual donations ranging from $5 to $5,000 helped surpass this year’s ambitious fundraising goal of $260,018.01.
Hosted by Survivors Abreast Peterborough, the volunteer-run event has raised more than $4.9 million over its history for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at PRHC.
“The Festival has had the same goal since day one,” said Survivors Abreast President Ann Stabler, “to ensure patients from across our region have access to the tests and treatments that could save their lives, right here in our community.”
Festival sponsors, including long-time platinum sponsor Kawartha Credit Union, cover event costs so 100 per cent of donations go directly to cancer care.
“Cancer touches so many lives in our community,” said Norah McCarthy, Kawartha Credit Union President & CEO. “The generosity and spirit shown by everyone involved in Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival is truly inspiring. At Kawartha, we believe in the power of community to create real, lasting impact – and this year’s Festival’s success is a perfect example of that.”
PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway called the donation the largest in festival history and praised the community’s ongoing commitment to improving cancer care.
“Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival continues to break records and show what’s possible when a community comes together for a cause that touches us all,” said Heighway. “The money raised through this incredible event will help bring cutting-edge technology like digital pathology to PRHC for the first time. With cancer diagnoses on the rise, this advancement will mean faster, more accurate diagnoses and earlier treatment.”
Planning is already underway for the 25th anniversary edition of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, set for June 13, 2026.
