TRHS dragon boat teams supporting sick kids

Four years ago, Tantramar Regional High School's graduation council was asked to participate in a fundraiser for the Lions Sick Children's Fund. This fundraiser required the grad class to convince 24 graduates to raise at least $1,800, head to Jones Lake in Moncton, and race against other high school students in a 46-foot dragon boat.

That year, TRHS raised exactly $1800.50, drove to Moncton, and beat not one, but two Moncton High School boats, to win first place in the first-ever high school challenge called the Education Cup. Since that year, the dragon boat race has become one of TRHS's most anticipated fundraising events.

Last year, nine high school boats competed in the races, with five of them being from Tantramar Regional High School. TRHS teams have collectively donated over $12,000, while finishing second, third, fifth, seventh and ninth in the races themselves.

This year, TRHS will be entering five boats again with a goal of exceeding their fundraising totals from last year.

The Education Cup will take place at Jones Lake on Friday, June 4. The bulk of fundraising money is required to be submitted in the first week of May. Each of the five boats have been holding meetings with their paddlers, captains, drummer and staff advisor to begin the process of raising funds. They have many fundraising ideas and they are eager to begin fundraising. Each member must raise at least $75 in personal pledges as well as help with fundraisers such as bake sales, bagging groceries, selling cookie dough, and asking for corporate sponsors.

For more information, contact Julie Jones, dragon boat team supervisor at 364-4060 or email at jonesjul@nbed.nb.ca.