In just over a month, dragon boats will take to the water at Katy’s Cove in Saint Andrews.
The 2024 Race by-the-Sea International Dragon Boat Festival is coming up on Sept. 21.
Shelley Hughes is the event coordinator and president of the Saint Andrews Paddling Club.
Hughes said they decided to shake things up for the third annual event and have a charity partner.
They will be raising money for the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation and the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation to put toward mental health and wellness initiatives.
“Historically in Canada, dragon boat festivals have been fundraisers usually for different types of cancer, predominantly breast cancer awareness,” said Hughes.
“What often gets missed with any type of cancer is the mental and the social aspects of fighting the disease.”
One thing they noticed during COVID, she said, is that mental wellness is in need of more studies and more funds.
Teams will race in a number of divisions, including a youth division and a cancer survivor division. Some teams have even signed up to race in multiple divisions.
Hughes said in addition to being a fundraiser, this event is also a great way to attract visitors to the Saint Andrews area.
“We’re looking for people to come from all over the province and further away,” she added.
Around a dozen teams from across New Brunswick have already signed up with room for more to be added before the registration deadline of Aug. 21.
