We were honored to serve as sponsors for the Dragon Boat Festival on May 3 at Brittlebank Park. This was the seventh year of the Festival, and it’s a unique event we’re proud to be part of. There’s nothing like seeing cancer survivors get on the water to compete and have fun! The event benefits the cancer survivor programs of Dragon Boat Charleston, complete with colorful costumes, vendors offering all kinds of food and drink. We heard plenty of laughter and stories, which is why we love going every year. 2014 Charleston Dragonboat Festival from Liz Oakley Productions on Vimeo. The Charleston Dragon Boat Festival has four classes of paddleboat racers: cancer survivors, men, women, and mixed-sex. Teams decorate their tents and wear team t-shirts, which are always creative and original. The entry fees for the Festival pay for cancer survivors to participate, yoga and nutrition workshops, a two-month outreach session for survivors, a Spring Camp, and year-round paddling 4-5 times per week. According to Dragon Boat Charleston, “Since 2003, Dragon Boat Charleston has been paddling the waters of the Ashley River with the mission to promote physical and mental wellness among cancer survivors and their community through dragon boating. The organization strives to encourage healthy healing and healthy lifestyles through goal oriented exercise, good nutrition, education and fellowship and to support the beneficial effects of physical activity in survivorship through research. The club has over 160 members, some of which paddle in races throughout the country.” We know that physical activity is beneficial to cancer survivors during and after cancer treatment, and thanks to events like the Dragon Boat Festival, wellness programs designed for cancer survivors have been developed across the country. We were privileged to join in this effort. For more information, visit the Dragon Boat website.