August 24 is the Barrie Public Library’s annual Dragon Boat Festival. Lots of local charities and not-for-profits use this event to help raise awareness and funds for their worthy causes. They all deserve careful consideration in donating to their cause. Let me tell you about my Boat and Team.

Candlelighters Courageous Cancer Kids Dragon Boat has been a part of the festival almost since the beginning. They didn’t enter a boat in the first one but have participated in every one ever since. I have paddled in all but one.

Candlelighters Simcoe is a local Parent Support Group for families of children and teens with cancer. They hold monthly Peer Support meetings where Parents can talk about their concerns and fears in a safe, caring, non-judgmental environment. During the meeting elementary school aged kids, the diagnosed child and siblings, are encouraged to attend the Expressive Art programs facilitated by a local Art Therapist, Claudia McKnight. High school aged kids are encouraged to attend and get the community service hours needed for graduation. They help set up, clean up and help the younger kids.

During the school year Candlelighters also runs a more intense Expressive Art Program at the McLaren. These groups are small and are used to help those kids who are struggling with their own or their sibling’s diagnosis and treatment. Again this program is facilitated by Claudia. It’s interesting to note that Claudia did her dissertation on the value of Art Therapy for cancer kids before she was connected to our group. I know my daughter benefitted from both programs and if she was still in Barrie she would still attend monthly meetings to help out with the Art Therapy.

Most of the money raised from the Dragon Boat Festival is used to run these Art Therapy programs and benefit the kids who are diagnosed and their siblings. By supporting Candlelighters Courageous Cancer Kids Dragon Boat Team you’ll be helping fragile families and kids cope.

Below is a link to their secure online donation page through Canada Helps. If you decide to donate please reference Dragon Boat as the Festival organizers want to know how much each team has raised for the organizations they support. If you want to also reference my name that would be nice but not necessary.
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/candlelighters-simcoe-parents-of-children-with-cancer/

Paddles Up!!! Ready, Ready!!!

Dave Munro

AlTruistic’s Beer Bread Bakery
info@altruisticsbeerbreadbakery.ca
705-735-7434/833-455-9684
www.altruisticsbeerbreadbakery.ca

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Patricia Dent

Business Mentor at Grow Vantage

Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 4,500 coaching and training sessions in Barrie, Ontario. Through Grow Vantage, her entrepreneurial training program, and as a business coach, she works with business owners to design, launch and grow their businesses; teaching strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, and techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, what entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, grow their networks, and avoid costly mistakes.

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