|
A
day of difference
Eileen M. Rafferty ‘06
On Oct. 4, four staff members from the Office of Financial
Assistance rowed in the 2nd Annual Dragon Boat Festival, raising money
for the Fox Chase Cancer Center. “Initially we had just hoped to
finish the race but the spirit of the festival was contagious and the
purpose of fundraising became a mission,” said team captain Claire
Tatlow.
Tatlow, Lorraine D’Alleva, Patricia McCabe and Melissa Walsh from
Financial Assistance joined 16 other rowers to form the “Dragonflies.”
Raising almost $9,000, they were the top non-corporate fund-raising team.
They also won a gold medal in their racing division and secured first
prize in the T-shirt design contest. “What makes the Dragonflies
so special is the diversity of this all-women’s team. None of the
boat members had ever been in a dragon boat or paddled on the Schuylkill
River,” explained Tatlow. “Most of the boat members are working
mothers, one is even a grandmother who never expected to be participating
in this type of activity.”
The festival took place on the Schuylkill River in Fairmont Park. Eighty-three
teams participated. The next festival will be held on Oct. 2, 2004.
|
|
