On June 17th, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) Sports Committee organized over 30 AYLUS members to volunteer at the Paddle for Pink event in Mercer County Park, West Windsor, NJ. They supported positions such as parking, fundraising sales, and ground force, etc.
Paddle for Pink (www.paddleforpink.org) hosted annually by the Machestic Dragons, New Jersey’s first breast cancer survivor’s dragon boat team, is a premier community dragon boat festival.
The event is a breast cancer awareness fundraiser and proceeds are donated to local breast cancer programs that provide free services to breast cancer patients/survivors.
The first Paddle for Pink in 2007 was a small community festival hosting a dozen dragon boat teams and by 2013 had grown into a daylong fundraising event of up to 50 teams. It is unique by offering a large Silent Auction and Live Entertainment in addition to vendors and contests. It is a “favorite festival” of many teams!
All races pause at midday for the “Flowers on the Water” ceremony as the breast cancer teams join in unity on the water to show together we are stronger than apart. Pink carnations are tossed into the water for those who have experienced breast cancer and in remembrance of those who have succumbed to this disease. As flowers spread upon the surface of the water, we reflect on how these lives have touched us and how we bond together to combat breast cancer and help survivors live active, rewarding lives.
Community participation makes this festival special and successful with over 1000 paddlers, many highly appreciated volunteers, sponsors, donors and spectators.
Sign up at https://www.panamdragonboat.com/races/paddle-for-pink-west-windsor-nj-4-2/
GPA volunteers (6/17): Erick Yan (5 hrs), Amy Chua (4 hrs), Max Chua (4 hrs), Kevin He (4 hrs), Claire Tang (G7, 4 hrs), Aaron Li (4 hrs), Vivian Wang (4 hrs), Mingze Feng (4 hrs), Victor Song (8 hrs), Jeffrey Huang (4 hrs), Brian Chen (8 hrs), Dessie Yang (4 hrs), Cici Yang (4 hrs), Vivien Yang (4 hrs), George Chen (4 hrs), Tiffany Tian (8 hrs), Zichen Ling (4 hrs), Alexander Wang (4 hrs), Keefer Kohli (4 hrs), Victor Peng (4 hrs), Sophia Feng (4 hrs), Michael Feng (4 hrs)
