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Villanova
staff compete in Dragon Boat Festival, raise funds for cancer research
By Megan Armstrong '06
On Oct. 9, two teams comprised of Villanova staff
members, families and friends competed in the Third Annual Philadelphia
International Dragon Boat Festival, a one-day regatta held on the Schuylkill
River in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. The Festival was a fundraising event
to benefit research programs at the Fox Chase Cancer Center of Philadelphia.
These two teams of Villanova staff rowed alongside the 106 total teams that
participated in the festival.
Barbara Romagnoli of the Registrar’s Office
captained team “Yao-Shi,” which competed in three heats at the festival. The
members of “Yao-Shi” raised over $11,000 for Fox Chase Cancer Center’s
cancer research programs. Claire Tatlow of Financial Assistance captained
team “Dragonflies,” which also competed in three heats and raised $12,200 in
pledge dollars.
Romagnoli said that the festival “was a day to
celebrate what we have and a remembrance of those we have lost. I was so
proud and humbled being part of something so special. What our team
accomplished was extraordinary! We pushed ourselves harder than we ever
thought possible in a race to stop the spread of cancer.”
Tatlow noted that “there were so many wonderful
women role models who either volunteered or paddled in this race, that it
was inspirational for me. To see women 60, 65 and over, women who are cancer
survivors participate in the Dragon Boat festival was an experience I will
always treasure.”
Team
“Yao-Shi” also included Pam Braxton, Florence Cellucci, Pat Garland, Kathy
Liberato and Lindy Rustam, Registrar’s Office; Monica Harrell and Fran
Pardini, Bursar’s Office; and Teri O’Brien, Academic Affairs. The
“Dragonflies” included Lorraine D’Alleva and Pat McCabe, Financial
Assistance. Each Villanova staff member rowed in honor of a family member or
friend who battled cancer. |
