The 麻豆社国产Dragon Boat Association is asking the community to help 鈥渒eep them afloat鈥� with a fundraiser to purchase a new fibreglass boat.
The club is currently using an aging wooden boat purchased from a club in Vancouver. Long-term it will require a lot of expensive maintenance, which is why the club is fundraising for a new fibreglass boat.
鈥淲e鈥檙e asking the community to come behind us and help us get this new boat, because it鈥檒l be really maintenance free for us,鈥� said organizer Cathie Greenlees.
鈥淲e are a community club, that has been around in 麻豆社国产since 2009. Anyone is able to join the club, it鈥檚 not exclusive at all.鈥�
The 48 foot, 22-seat Millennium boat, made on Vancouver Island, costs $16,995. Additional expenses include a drum seat, steering oar, drum, wrap and delivery fees to make sure it gets to Squamish.
So far, the club has raised $160 of their $20,000 fundraising goal.
While the team does have some money set aside, it won鈥檛 be enough, so the team is using the crowdfunding website GoFundMe and offering contributors invites to events and sponsorship opportunities.
The club regularly represents 麻豆社国产in regatta competitions across the province and in the western U.S. The team has also taken different groups out for community programs and teambuilding, and can often be seeing training on Howe Sound.
In a couple of rare mishaps, the Dragon Boat team has even made a few rescues in the sound 鈥� their activities have included rescuing a sailboat and a few wayward kite surfers.聽
If the fundraiser is successful, it鈥檒l be the first time the association has been able to call a new boat their own.聽
Three years ago, they were paddling a rented Millennium from the Dragon Boat Association of Vancouver, but the organization dissolved, leaving the local team scrambling. Soon after, they began renting-to-own the current boat, but the maintenance of the wooden boat will be more expensive in the long run.
Greenlees said the team sport is both athletic and social and plays an important role in the community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a sport that is learned quickly, but it takes years to master,鈥� she said.
鈥淧eople think it鈥檚 about the arms, but it鈥檚 all about the core. It鈥檚 a full body workout. Dragon boating is a team sport; it鈥檚 all about being synchronized and playing as a team. You could have a strong team of muscle guys and a little tiny older women鈥檚 team could beat them if they鈥檙e in time and know their stroke. It鈥檚 really neat.鈥�
Editor鈥檚 note: Cathie Greenlees works in the sales department of The 麻豆社国产.
