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website: www.focusonscugog.com Thousands of people gathered along the lakefront in Port Perry on June 23 to participate and watch the third annual Fire Flies Dragon Boat Festival. Perfect weather greeted the spectators and competitors, who raced from the south end of Lake Scugog to the finish line in front of Palmer Park raising more than $125,000 during the event. This was $20,000 more than a year earlier. Palmer Park became a virtual ‘tent city’ for the entire day as teams set up stations to relax and wait for their heats. According to officials 48 teams consist- ing of about 1,2000 paddlers, along with hundreds of volunteers and dignitaries took part in the day's events. The Canterbury Silver Dragons were the high- est pledge donor team for the third straight year. Hundreds of pink camations were waved by spectators as The Dragon Flies team conducted the Breast Cancer Ceremony, and four white doves were re- leased in memory of those members of the team who lost their battle against breast cancer. The pink camations were then tossed into the water in memory of all those who lost their lives to this dreaded disease. Pictures: Above, spectators lining the shore during the ceremony. Upper left: carnations floating in the lake near the dragon boats. Left/bottom Teams competing in the races. Below, The Dragon Flies team put up a paddle arch for their team mates. Photos by J.P. Hvidsten Focus -juLy2007 11