Dragon boat event in Montreal raises funds for cancer patient support 

Montreal’s waterfront in Lachine was bustling with energy as paddlers took off on their dragon boats for the 20th edition of the annual BDO Cedars CanSupport Dragon Boat Race on Saturday.

The teams weren’t only racing to the finish line, they’re racing to reach their goal of raising $700,000 to support the McGill University Health Centre’s (MUHC) Cedars Cancer Centre that provides programs in support of cancer patients and their families to help make their journey a little easier.

“These funds provide programs and financial assistance, humanitarian support to our cancer patients and their families – practical information, workshops, art therapy, music therapy, exercise, meditation, acupuncture – all these programs and services, massage, mindfulness, they all help the cancer patient go through their treatment and give them support,” said Jeff J. Shamie, president & CEO of Cedars Cancer Foundation.

As a cancer survivor herself, Gwen Nacos, was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer when she was only 38 years old; Nacos had the idea to start Cedars CanSupport while in a waiting room, awaiting treatment at the hospital.

“When I sat in the waiting room, I noticed that most of the people were alone and they looked lost,” said Nacos. “And maybe they were a little bit like me in so far as… I had a lot of questions to ask, but I didn’t know to whom to ask them and what were the right questions. You know, I wanted to be a good patient. And just seeing those people who were all alone made me realize that I was in a position to do something to help those other people.”

After her realization, Nacos was quick to partner with Jeff Shamie who had the original idea to turn a dragon boat race into a fundraiser.    

“We were just a few boats at the Olympic Basin, but people loved the event and it was decided that, and it still is today 20 years later, this is our 20th year, that all the proceeds would go towards cedars can support.”

“We’re one of the only organizations – hospital based charities – that provide humanitarian financial assistance for those patients who need extra help during their treatment, and that’s where cedars come in,” said Shamie. “So, the patients are grateful, the family members are grateful and it’s really about reaching out and helping more people.”

Every year, the fundraiser has continued to grow – with this year’s dragon boat race including 26 teams each containing 20 paddlers – tasked with the objective of raising $20,000 per boat. 

“It’s wonderful, we’ve already hit 609,000 on an objective of $700, 000, and the thermometer is going up, people can give all day, all night, 24/7,” said Shamie.

“I always have very ambitious goals,” said Nacos. “I think sometimes people tell me to calm down. But when I see that we’ve been successful each year, of course, I always want to go further the next year.”

While the race remains a pillar of the event every year, organizers say they always dedicate time to commemorate the lives of loved ones who lost their battle to cancer. In a touching act of love and devotion, cancer survivor teams embarked their boats once again and gathered with roses as they gently placed them on the water.