A local organization raising money for breast cancer research has jump-started a major fundraising campaign that they hope to complete within the next three years.
Waves of Hope, a dragon boat team based in Brandon and formed in 1999 as Canada’s 12th dragon boat team for breast cancer survivors, has started a fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $150,000. The objective is to have the money raised by 2029.
On April 11, at the first ever Day of Hope and Education, Waves of Hope kickstarted the campaign with a $25,000 donation. There were thousands in additional donations throughout the day (though they said in a release they do not yet have an exact total).
“When you’re going through something as overwhelming as cancer treatment, having a group of people who understand without explanation makes all the difference,” said Waves of Hope team manager Michelle Gerrard, a 23-year survivor of triple negative breast cancer. “This conference is about creating that same sense of connection while helping people better understand what’s available to them and the research happening in our own community.”
The money raised goes to cancer research taking place at Brandon University’s Breast Cancer Cell & Molecular Research Lab.
According to the release, the full roster of a dragon boat team is 20 paddlers, one steersperson and one drummer. Waves currently has more the 40 active paddlers.
Each year in May, when the winter ice leaves Lake Minnedosa, 50 km north of Brandon, Waves of Hope practices weekly throughout the summer season. They take part in festivals and demonstrations throughout the season.
