Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival helping 23rd Veteran

The Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival has been helping local charities in the Twin Ports Area since 2002. This year, the proceeds are going to support 23rd Veteran’s mission to helping active military and veterans facing mental health issues.

Nearly 50 Dragon Boat teams competed against each other, and some teams traveled from beyond the Northland. Charil Reis, the president of the Island City Dragon Boat Club in Minocqua Wisconsin, said Dragon Boating is a great team building sport.

“I was on this team once with a bunch of para paddlers and some of them were blind,” Reis said. “If you have any kind of impairment, I still believe we can teach you how to paddle. You don’t have to be able to hear or see. You can do it.”

According to the National Library of Medicine, breast cancer survivors have found dragon boating to help their recovery. Ingrid Schneider and Nicole Herlofsky, are members of Dragon Divas, a Dragon Boat team who were the only breast cancer division competing this year.

“You just got to come out and try it. I mean, the dragon boating itself is great. It’s great exercise. It’s a lot of fun. But the camaraderie with your team is really what it’s all about.” Herlofsky said. “Absolutely. The full body exercise, fun always on the water. What else do you want to do in Minnesota?” Schneider said.

For more information about the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival you can look here. Also for other stories with Lake Superior you can read more here.