by Margo Callaghan

Sixteen hundred racers will paddle for health and glory in this Sunday's fifth annual Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival in Burlington. Cheer on 72 Vermont community teams and four breast cancer survivor teams from the U.S. and Canada as they compete in 300-meter sprint races to benefit Dragonheart Vermont and Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for children with cancer.

Among the 76 teams racing for fun and fundraising at the festival are the "SCS Just Oardinary People" from the Shelburne Community School and S.D. Ireland's team "Unbreakable."

Lisa Woodward, a special educator at SCS, and SCS office administrator Patti Spagnolo, have organized the team. They will be joined by SCS administration, teachers, paraprofessionals and their family members. "The school had a team two years ago, and we decided to resurrect it," Woodward explained. "We're hoping for great weather and a fine adventure!"As with all the other teams, "Just Ordinary People" had the opportunity to practice just once, for one hour in mid-July.

The "Unbreakable" team comprises S.D.Ireland employees and their families. According to organizer Kim Ireland, "This is our third year paddling and we have a few new members, but most of the crew are returning from last year. I have to remind the construction workers on the team that this race isn't about strength; it's all about rhythm!" Ireland said there is always an outpouring of volunteers and support. S.D. Ireland is also sponsoring one of the four breast cancer survivors' teams. In 1999, Kim and her husband Scott launched the SD Ireland Cancer Research Fund which supports cancer research being conducted at University of Vermont's College of Medicine.

Race Day
Races, food, and festivities begin at 8 a.m. and last all day long. Each race features five to six lanes of colorful dragon boats carrying 21 paddlers each. Boats start every 12 minutes until the champion team is crowned in the final sprint for glory at 4:30 p.m.

It's an all-day celebration with lots of free fun for the whole family. Entertainment includes Burlington's Taiko Drummers, Sambatucada, Maiden Vermont, and the Jeh Kulu Drummers. A plethora of silent auction items, raffles, unique merchandise, children's crafts, and local foods combine to create an exciting, fun-filled day for all. At noon, a traditional flower ceremony performed by the breast cancer survivor teams will honor the spirit of those who have died from breast cancer.

Pledge partner
In 2008, Camp Ta-Kum-Ta (www.takumta.org) lost its home of 25 years at Camp Holy Cross in Colchester and now must raise money to build new camp facilities in South Hero. Proceeds from the festival will support a new activities cabin for arts, crafts, music, and a community space. Last year's festival raised $110,000 for the camp and the Dragonheart team hopes to raise the final construction costs this year.

According to Dragonheart Executive Director, Linda Dyer, "This is a great celebration of life! Our breast cancer survivor teams are an inspiration to watch and the community bonds together for an amazing day of fundraising for kids with cancer and Vermont breast cancer survivors, all facing the toughest battle of their lives."

Donations
It isn't too late to support the rowing teams in their efforts to raise money for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Go to the Dragonheart website, www.ridethedragon.org. Donations for the SCS Just Oardinary People team can also be dropped off at the SCS school office. For more information on the S.D.Ireland Cancer Research Foundation, visit www.sdicancerresearch.org.