Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival Raises More Than $382,000 for Local Cancer Care

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has raised $382,518.01 for cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, pushing its 25-year fundraising total past $5.3 million.

organizers of the peterborough dragon boat festival presented the peterborough regional health centre with a massive cheque on tuesday, october 27th, with funds raised from the 2026 peterborough dragon baot festival held on little lake

The donation, presented to the PRHC on Tuesday, follows the festival’s 25th anniversary celebration on Little Lake this past June, which brought together 69 teams and more than 1,340 paddlers. Organizers had set a fundraising goal of $325,018.01 to mark the milestone, but the community went well beyond that target.

The annual event, hosted by the Survivors Abreast Peterborough dragon boat team, supports breast and other cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment at PRHC. The festival is entirely volunteer-run, with sponsors covering event costs so that 100 per cent of pledges can go toward the cause.

“Our story is a story about hope, passion, dedication, community and fun!” said Festival Chair Michelle Thornton. “But in the beginning, it was just a few hopeful and determined breast cancer survivors and their supporters, trying to raise awareness, have fun and make a bit of a difference in someone’s life.”

Over the past quarter-century, that effort has grown into one of Peterborough’s major community fundraisers, helping patients access cancer care closer to home.

“This is a tremendously large fundraiser for a single day event,” Thornton said, thanking the teams, volunteers, sponsors and donors who continue to support the festival. She noted that the funds can help people receive earlier diagnoses, avoid travelling for treatment and remain close to friends and family during difficult times.

The latest proceeds will support the PRHC Foundation’s $70-million Campaign for PRHC, the largest fundraising initiative in the hospital and Foundation’s history. Cancer care is a key priority, with funding from the festival helping PRHC invest in technology for earlier diagnosis and safer, more effective treatment.

Planned investments include interventional radiology ultrasound, contrast-enhanced biopsy technology and an anesthesia machine.

Kawartha Financial Services, the festival’s platinum and presenting sponsor for all 25 years, has helped make the event possible. President Norah McCarthy said the fundraising achievement reflects the community’s commitment to strengthening local healthcare.

PRHC Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway also thanked the organizers, Survivors Abreast, paddlers, volunteers, sponsors and donors for helping make compassionate cancer care possible for patients across the region.

Planning for the 26th annual festival will begin soon. The next event is scheduled for June 12th, 2027. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Festival Chair Michelle Thornton at michellethornton.365@gmail.com.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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