Never Alone Cancer Foundation Dragon Boat Festivals Landing Page

The Never Alone Cancer Foundation has partnered with the Manitoba Paddling Association to keep dragon boating a big part of Manitoba summers (and winters)! 

As you will notice, each festival is unique, safe and tons of fun! They are also fantastic opportunities for corporate team building, getting family or friends together, or just making an excuse to spend some more time outside.
    
These festivals are so important to us because they will enable us to support cancer patients and their families in Manitoba. This can include groceries for a single mom too sick to work during treatment.  A Brave Barbie for a little girl who’s lost her hair from chemo. For another person, it’s transportation to their medical appointments or the cost of medications.  Sometimes it’s just a visit and a small gift to someone who is frightened, so they know they are never alone on their cancer journey.

Never paddled before? Don’t worry! Two practice sessions (with an experienced coach) and all necessary equipment are included with your registration. All you have to do is get your team together, register and we'll help with the rest!

All registration fees cover the cost of the festivals. Donations and pledges gathered support our mission to provide emotional, financial and informational support to patients, families and caregivers affected by cancer.

All money raised stays in Manitoba.

Manitoba School Dragon Boat Challenge - May 31, 2025

The Never Alone Cancer Foundation, together with the Manitoba Paddling Association, are proud to bring you the Manitoba School Dragon Boat Challenge May 31, 2025 at the Manitoba Canoe & Kayak Club at 80 Churchill Drive in Winnipeg. Junior and senior high school students from all across the province join to support cancer patients in their community by fundraising, paddling and racing for incentives and bragging rights!

Teams are made up of between 16 – 24 students and teachers (maximum 2 teachers per boat and minimum 8 females) to represent their school.  A dragon boat holds 22 people and teams can have 2 alternatives. 

This festival is currently the largest school dragon boat festival in Western Canada, and encourages student philanthropy, leadership, teamwork and an active, healthy lifestyle while contributing to their community by fundraising for a worthy cause. 

For more information, click on the button below:

 

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River City Dragon Boat Festival - June 1, 2025

Never Alone Cancer Foundation, together with the Manitoba Paddling Association, are proud to bring you the River City Dragon Boat Festival June 1, 2025 at the Manitoba Canoe & Kayak Club at 80 Churchill Drive in Winnipeg. The festival is a fantastic opportunity for fun, entertainment, racing, and most importantly, to help cancer patients in our community.

Our classic “Big Boat” Dragon Boat festival is open to all types of teams, from corporate to community, or ones made of family and friends.  Team registration includes Women’s Team (20 person), Mixed Team (20 person w/min. 8 females) , or you can join as an individual.  Teams can register a maximum of 25 members which includes 20 paddlers, 1 drummer, 1 steerer, and a maximum of 3 spares. In order to participate in practices and races, each boat must have a minimum of 16 paddlers and a drummer (steerers provided if needed). 

Dragon Boat registration for a team of 20 -25 paddlers is $1,000.

For more festival info, click on the button below:

 

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September Dragon Boat Festival - September 7, 2025

The September Dragon Boat Challenge in support of the Never alone Cancer Foundation will take place September 7, 2025 at the Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Centre at 80 Churchill Drive in Winnipeg.

The September Challenge is a unique event that is a favourite amongst paddlers from the most novice to the expert! It not only features smaller 10 paddler dragon boats, but also incorporates an innovative, fun and safe oval race course. With just 10 paddlers and a drummer needed, it’s a race that allows families, friends and co-workers to get together for some fun and to raise funds to help cancer patients in our community.

Teams can register a maximum of 15 members (10 paddlers, 1 drummer, 1 steerer and up to 3 spares).  In order to participate in practices and races, each boat must have a minimum of 8 paddlers and a drummer (steerers provided if needed).

Get your team of friends, family, and co-workers together for a lot fun in support of a great cause as you will be helping cancer patients in our community

For more information, click on the button below:

 

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About the Never Alone Cancer Foundation

The Never Alone Cancer Foundation's (NACF) mission is to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

We are a small not-for-profit charity that provides emotional, informational, and financial support to patients, families & caregivers impacted by cancer. 

NACF is unique in that we provide immediate, targeted support based on each patient's specific needs.  This includes groceries for a single mom too sick to work during treatment, or a Brave Barbie for a little girl who’s lost her hair from chemo. For another person, it is transportation to their medical appointments or the cost of medications.  Sometimes it’s just a visit and a small gift to someone who is frightened, so they know they are never alone on their cancer journey. 

The Never Alone team consists of only 3 employees and 40+ volunteers who assisted more than 560+ people in 2023! Over half of our volunteer team is comprised of cancer patients who initially reached out to Never Alone for assistance. They were so touched by the compassion and support they received; they now volunteer to give back to other cancer patients struggling through a similar journey.

The Never Alone Cancer Foundation does not receive any government funding and is reliant on the generosity of our community.  Your support and participation in the Never Alone Dragon Boat Races & Festivals will support Manitobans battling cancer when help is needed most.

Please donate in support of cancer patients in our community.

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For more information about the Never Alone Cancer Foundation,

please visit our website at www.nacf.ca