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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. — The Dragons on the Hudson races have become the signature event of the Peekskill Celebration over the past few years, and they continue to grow both in size and popularity.
This year will feature even more of the popular dragon boat races than ever, said Cathy Montaldo, executive director of the celebration.
"Our cancer awareness races have expanded, so we have 14 cancer awareness teams that are racing all morning and 20 community teams in the afternoon, and we'll do our Rose Ceremony as we always do at around noon," Montaldo said.
The parade of teams will be held before the Cancer Awareness Awards Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. after the Rose Ceremony.
On Wednesday evening at the Peekskill Yacht Club, three teams prepared for the races: Miles of Hope, a cancer awareness organization, and two related teams, the Dragonmeisters and the Fire-Breathings Dragons.
The teams are made up of volunteers from Dutchess and Putnam Counties and started with two people, said volunteer Cindy Kenworthy of Patterson, captain of Fire-Breathing Dragons.
"It just grows each year," Kenworthy said. "The first year we had just one boat, the second year we had two boats and now we have three boats.The more people that we talk to the more people want to get involved because it's such a great experience."
The team draws inspiration from team member Cathi Deleon of Lagrange, a cancer survivor.
"We're all here for her, and for friends or relatives who have either suffered or are suffering or have passed on," Kenworthy said.
The teams are always looking for new members, and those interested can go to www.milesofhope.org for more information.
This year's cancer races will also have six boats from Empire Dragons, made up of teams of women who have survived cancer.
Cancer Awareness Teams, begin at 9 a.m.
- Suz Crew (2011 champions)
- Hudson Valley Hospital Center I – Dragon Boat Race Sponsor
- Hudson Valley Hospital Center II
- Support Connection I
- Support Connection II
- Against the Wind
- Empire Dragons
- Fire Breathing Dragons
- Machestic Dragons
- Micro Soft Dragons
- Miles For Hope
- Pink Steel
- Westchester Medical Practice
- Ying Yang Dragons
Dragons on the Hudson Community Team Races, begin at 1 p.m.
- Against the Wind
- Arlington Teachers
- City of Peekskill
- Dylan’s Drunkin Dragons
- Empire Dragons
- Fire Breathing Dragons
- Fred’s Fearless Dragons
- Hen Hud Sailor Family
- Hen Hud Education Foundation
- HV Gateway Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals I
- HV Gateway Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals II
- Machestic Dragons
- Noah’s Ark
- NYU Dental Students
- Peekskill Rotary Club
- Peekskill Yacht Club Women Warriors
- Pink Steel
- Quiet Man Public House
- Ying Yang Dragons
- Dragon Meisters
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