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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Dragons race in an effort to beat cancer
MORE than 115 dragons will be out again today, hitting Lake Shirley for the FMG Dragon Boat Festival, a fiery boating race that raises funds for CancerCare Manitoba and the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
One boating team, nicknamed Ryan's Rowers, will be led by one brave 15-year-old boy.
Ryan Veldkamp will be drumming at the bow of his team's boat, to help the rowers keep time.
Both CancerCare and the Children's Hospital Foundation are close to the teen's heart. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November 2008. He just finished chemotherapy treatments in February.
"He wanted to paddle, but we were afraid he would still be too weak from the chemotherapy. But just being able to be in the boat is really exciting for him," said Carla Veldkamp, Ryan's mother, who also paddled for Ryan's Rowers.
Ryan's Rowers had their first race Saturday, but had their second match delayed due to the strong winds.
"There was one other team that was really taking it seriously, like really training hard. They smoked us. But we beat the third place team by a dragon's head," Veldkamp said. "We won't know our times until tomorrow (Sunday), but we do really want to win."
Veldkamp said her family has raised close to $400 in pledges for the event. Although the festival, which began Friday, has been fun for Carla, she said today's flower ceremony will be tough to handle. "I've got my tissue supply ready."
Attendees of the ceremony will be able to purchase white or red flowers for $2 each.
"The white represent those that have passed on fighting cancer and the red represent the survivors," Tanya Williams, communications specialist with the Children's Hospital Foundation, said. The flowers will be released on the water at 2 p.m. today with a formation of boats to commemorate the event.
Following the flower ceremony, pebbles with messages and photos with some of the children who are fighting cancer will be released into the water as a symbol of support for the kids.
"It puts a face to what this horrible disease does," Williams said.
The races will kick off bright and early this morning at 8 a.m. at the Lake Shirley Water Ski Park.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 10, 2012 A4
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