Fundraising History

20 Years of Giving Back to Vermont

In 2006, Dragonheart Vermont took a simple idea and turned it into something real: share our love of dragon boating with the community, race together and give back. Twenty years later, the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival has put more than $1 million into the hands of Vermont cancer organizations. Every dollar stayed local.

The table below tells that story year by year: from a $35,000 ultrasound machine in our first festival season to $25,000 for Sail Beyond Cancer in 2025. Some years the festival supported a single pledge partner. Others, like 2017, the funds reached more than a dozen organizations serving cancer survivors across the state.

None of it happens without the paddlers, sponsors, volunteers and community members who show up every August. This is what your support has made possible.

Year	Pledge Partner	Donated	Proceeds Allocated for
2006	FAHC Radiation Oncology Dept.	$35,000	Ultrasound machine
2007	Vermont Respite House/Hospice	$40,000	State-of-the art hospital beds & equipment
2008	Cancer Patient Support Program’s Emergency Fund	$90,000	Emergency Fund support for cancer survivor’s in need
2009	Vermont’s Camp Ta-Kum-Ta	$110,000	Activities Cabin
2010	Vermont’s Camp Ta-Kum-Ta	$105,000	Activities Cabin
2011	Survivorship NOW	$118,450	Empowering wellness programs for cancer survivors
2012	Survivorship NOW	$100,125	Empowering wellness programs for cancer survivors
2013	Survivorship NOW	$72,500	Empowering wellness programs for cancer survivors
2014	Survivorship NOW	$75,500	Empowering wellness programs for cancer survivors
2015	Survivorship NOW	$72,000	Empowering wellness programs for cancer survivors
2016	Survivorship NOW	$75,000	Empowering wellness programs for cancer survivors
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: UVM Medical Center Physical Therapy Department	$3000	Lymphedema garments to cancer survivors in need to help manage the chronic painful swelling condition known as lymphedema
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Vermont Cancer Survivor Network	$3000	Expansion of their Kindred Connections program with further recruitment and training of cancer survivors in the six VT counties
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Hope Lodge	$2000	Needed supplies for this home-away –from-home for families as loved ones get cancer treatments
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Touch Caring and Cancer Workshops	$2000	Hands-on experiential workshops for cancer patients and their family/friends, at 8 different locations across Northern Vermont
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Vermont Bodhi & Mind	$2160	Private instruction of yoga personalized to breast cancer survivors with physical, mental, and emotional support during their breast cancer journey.
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Young Survivor Network	$500	Funding for a group activity for young cancer survivors under 40 years old.
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Cancer Patient Support Program	$3000	Emergency Fund support for cancer survivor’s in need
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Vermonters Take Action Against Cancer	$2000	Supporting the cancer advocacy coalition whose goals are to help carry out the VT Cancer Plan
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Healing Circles	$2000	Providing funds for empowering activities for cancer survivors in St. Albans
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Central Vermont Medical Center Cancer Support Group	$2000	Providing funds for empowering programs for cancer survivors in Central VT
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Healing Circles	$2000	Providing funds for empowering activities for cancer survivors in St. Albans
2017	Survivorship Disbursement: Steps to Wellness Yoga Fund	$3000	Creation of a yoga program specific for cancer survivors to help with the management of pain
2017	Vermont’s Camp Ta-Kum-Ta	$34,300	Raising funds for an all-purpose dining pavilion for this camp program for children with cancer
2018	Integrative Therapies at The UVM Cancer Center	$53,500	Launching a new therapies program to improve quality of life for cancer patients and survivors
2019	McClure Miller Respite House	$32,000	Establishing a “Care Fund” to improve access to care regardless of ability to pay
2020	Integrative Therapies at the UVMMC Cancer Center	$15,000	Cancer continues during COVID and so does our support
2020	Vermont Cancer Support Network	$5,000	Cancer continues during COVID and so does our support
2021	Cancer Patient Support Foundation	$23,261	Emergency Fund
2022	Cancer Patient Support Foundation	$33,739	Emergency Fund
2023	McClure Miller Respite House	$33,238	Contribution to the “Care Fund” to improve access to care regardless of ability to pay
2023	Mahana Magic	$2,500	Support children in families impacted by cancer
2023	Vermont Cancer Support Network	$2,500	Support transportation and lodging for those undergoing cancer treatment
2024	Osher Integrative Oncology at the UVM Cancer Center	$15,000	Provide adjutant therapies for cancer patients and families
2025	Vermont Chapter: Sail Beyond Cancer	$25,000	Improve outreach, train volunteers, increase sail capacity