Dragon boat event in Montreal raises funds for breast cancer support
Posted June 28, 2025 5:38 pm.
Last Updated June 28, 2025 6:41 pm.
Paddlers and supporters came together on Saturday at the Lachine Canal, braving the rain and water for a good cause. McGill University’s Women’s Health Awareness Movement teamed up with Université de Montréal’s Bateau Dragon and 22 Dragons to raise funds for the foundation More Than a Cure.
“I expect to see a lot of teamwork, a lot of unity, a lot of collaboration and empowerment, which aligns beautifully with our mission at More Than a Cure, which is to empower people to bring community together — because with community, you’re stronger — and also to provide financial resources to women,” said Isabelle Houle, director of wellness at More Than a Cure.
“It’s important because at More Than a Cure, we are a non-profit foundation whose mission is to give back to women who are going through a diagnosis or procedure related to breast cancer,” said Houle. “So by raising funds, we are able to help women access critical resources, so they don’t have to choose between their health and their families’ well-being.”
Back on shore, the energy was just as strong — with food, live music by McGill med students, and prizes.
“We really have a mix of community members — some who have never paddled before and others who have paddled in the past,” said Anna Li, VP Finance at the Women’s Health Awareness Movement (WHAM). “I’m really excited to see everyone on their dragon boats having fun. We have a bunch of raffle prizes, food stands, performers, music, and even a DJ. So I’m just excited to see everyone enjoying themselves and, at the end, to see how much we’ve raised.”
“We just started this year, and this is our first large-scale event,” said Rosie Fountotos, VP Communications at WHAM. “We’re close to raising $17,000, which is a great drop in the bucket for breast cancer research.”
It was also a first for Rosie, who joined the event with 10 fellow students from McGill’s medical school.
“This is my first time — same for all my friends,” said Fountotos. “But we’re here for a great cause. We’ve raised so much money, and we’re just here to support each other and have a good time.”
