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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. Several rowing teams had their first and only practice Thursday evening, before the Dragon Boat Races take place on the Hudson during Saturdays Peekskill Celebration. Many of the teams in the main race and in the Cancer Awareness Dragon Boat race will represent Cortlandt businesses, charities and residents.
Im always nervous about getting into a boat, said Allyson Curtis, a member of Hudson Valley Hospital Centers rowing team, from the marketing department. She added, however, that it was fun rowing with her team, which is a major sponsor of the event, because were all in different departments.
There are two separate Dragon Boat Races, the first heat will begin at 9 a.m., and will be the main race for the Peekskill Cup. The second set of races will be a Cancer Awareness race, and will take place at about 12:30 p.m., but as one of the members of the Dragon Boat Races safety crew noted, the race schedule often varies. Arriving early is a good bet for those hoping to see the race. There will be a rose toss into the Hudson River following the Cancer Awareness race. Roses will be available for purchase on shore.
Its to show there is life after the diagnosis, and a quality of life after diagnosis, said Executive Director of the Peekskill Celebration Cathy Montaldo, about the Cancer Awareness Race. The Hudson Valley Hospital Center will participate in both races.
I think theres so many people who are familiar with it, said Curtis, about cancer awareness. My sister actually just had surgery and my dad died of cancer, she continued. However, Curtis added that the timing was right for the opening of HVHCs Cancer Center in the fall after the races.
Many of the teams in this years races will be rowing for charity and local businesses, and will row as a team building exercise, said Montaldo.
"You have someone up front drumming," said Tama Goodstein, a member of the HVHC team. If you row together you do better."
Another team that will competing in the races is the Jan Peek House homeless shelter, the group practiced earlier in the week. Executive director Jeanne Blum said more practice might have helped.
"If you look at the video it's hysterical because we think we're all rowing together and doing well but when we looked at the video, this person's oar is up, this one's down," Blum laughed.
Last year Blum's team got more attention for their specially decorated shopping cart and their "Will Row For Food" shirts than their rowing, which suits Blum just fine.
"It's all about raising awareness for hunger and raising awareness for Fred's Pantry," Blum said.
Fred's Pantry is the food pantry located in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, whose congregation helped run the event. It opens every Saturday morning to help feed hundreds of hungry local residents. The pantry is always looking for food and cash donations, Blum said.
The races have been shortened this year, as a request by the rowing teams. Teams will now race two heats, instead of three.
The Dragon Boat Races can be seen from the Riverfront Green in Peekskill, and are one of many events taking place on Saturday. For a full schedule of events visit the Peekskill Celebrations website.
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