For immediate release
Paddles Up!
12th Annual Manulife Dragon Boat Festival set for July 11th
HALIFAX, NS (Wednesday, July 8, 2009) – The Manulife Dragon Boat Festival hopes to break last year’s record of raising $195,000 on Saturday, July 11th. This year 68 teams are ready to paddle and raise thousands of dollars for the Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund. Over the past 11 years, this event has raised over $1 million for the Fund.
The Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund was created to assist and promote the development of athlete-centred amateur sport in Nova Scotia by providing financial support to community-based programs, amateur athletes, coaches and officials from around the province.
“This Fund provides individuals and groups the opportunity to pursue local, provincial, national and international athletic endeavours. Often without this funding, these endeavours would not be possible,” says Jamie Ferguson, CEO, Sport Nova Scotia. “Thanks to this event and the people that help organize it and participate, over the past 12 years hundreds of athletes and groups have come closer to reaching their dreams.”
Last year, the event raised over $195,000. This was the all-time record and surpassed the 2007 high by more than $35,000. This year, event organizers are working towards achieving a similar goal.
This year, over 1500 competitors will take to the water early in the morning and continue to compete throughout the day. “Each year, this event is better than the year before and this year will be no different,” says Doug Mattatall, Account Executive, Mattatall Signs and Event Chair. “For the past year, the organizing committee has been working behind the scenes to register participants and organize street events not only to ensure that the event raises much needed financial support for the sport community but also to ensure that everyone—participants and spectators—has a fun and memorable day.”
The teams will face off at the 12th Annual Manulife Dragon Boat Festival when races get underway this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Lake Banook in Dartmouth. Along with the races, there will be many fun-filled activities along Prince Albert Road, including Glow Promotions, a mini sport fair, face painting, magicians, Chinese musical performances, food vendors and much more!
Prince Albert Road will be closed to vehicle traffic from 7:30 until 3:30 pm on Saturday, July 11.
For more information or to get involved go online at dragonboat.halifax.ns.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Jeff LeDrew
Director, Marketing & Events
Sport Nova Scotia
Office: 425-5450, ext. 354
Cell: 497-9711