Michael Sulyha’s two cancer survivor dragon boat teams are now training hard for their races in the upcoming Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival 20-22 June 2025. Both teams are proudly sponsored by PCSO, with nearly half of the Great Big C men’s cancer survivors’ team being PCSO members, and the mixed team We Beat U also has PCSO member representation.
Check out team member Richard Pell’s update here, and be sure to come out to the festival at Mooney’s Bay [MAP] to cheer the teams on and enjoy all the festival has to offer.
From Richard Pell, avid Great Big C dragon boater and PCSO member….
Great Big C is on the water again this year preparing for the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival (ODBF). We have grown to having two boats; the original men's cancer survivor team has returned and the second is a mixed gender cancer survivor team named We Beat U.
If you can't join either of the teams but want to support these cancer survivors, consider donating to one of the teams or to a specific individual on the team in their effort to give back to local Ottawa charities. Visit the ODBF website https://dragonboat.net/ and click Donate To ODBF.CA.
Over the years, the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival has supported more than 80 local charities. This year, they will continue this tradition, providing funding for essential programs and services in our community to Bruyère Health Foundation, Matthew House Ottawa, Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa, Camp des Voyageurs Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, and Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa.
Together we make a difference in our community and we hope that you can help with a donation and we thank you for your support.
2025 Great Big C and We Beat U Season Schedule
Five practices once a week prior to the festival on Wednesday evenings 7-8 pm, starting May 21
Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival weekend of June 20-22
Three practices: Wed August 20, 6-7 pm • Fri August 29, 6-7pm • Wed September 3, 6-7pm
Carleton Place Dragon Boat Festival Saturday, September 6
