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May 9—The Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Dragon Boat Race & Festival is set to kick off Saturday morning, with the 40 competing teams expected to raise a combined total of at least $100,000 for the hospital, continuing a tradition that began 12 years ago.
According to Meteorologist Robert Boyd with the National Weather Service in Huntsville, there is a 20% chance of rain showers Saturday afternoon in the Decatur area, with highs in the low 70s. Rain is expected to continue into the night, but no storms are currently predicted.
Noel Lovelace, vice president of development for the hospital and president of the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation, said funds raised this year will support the hospital's Hologic Affirm Breast Biopsy Guidance System, which was acquired in March.
The event will begin with a drum ceremony at 8:30 a.m., featuring a Japanese drumming routine performed by the Daikin Taiko drum team. The traditional "dotting of the eye" will also take place, where the eyes of the dragon heads on the boats are painted red by an executive from presenting sponsor Toray Composite Materials America Inc.
"The first race will be at 9 o'clock," Lovelace said. "The Iron Ore Challenge will be around 11, and then we'll break for lunch."
Students from Auburn University and the University of Alabama will face off in the Iron Ore Challenge. Afternoon heats will resume at 12:30, followed by an awards ceremony after 3 p.m.
"We give out lots of awards, including a Dragon Tail Award for the slowest boat," Lovelace said. "We award championships to first-, second- and third-place finalists in five different flights."
Last year's event raised more than $100,000. If that goal is matched again Saturday, the foundation will have raised approximately $1.2 million over the past 12 years of the event, according to Lovelace.
New teams participating this year include Decatur-based businesses D2 Sports & Outdoors and Point Mallard Nutrition. Decatur's Pepsi Bottling Group will also compete for the first time.
Drake Montgomery, marketing and public relations coordinator for Pepsi, said the company has sponsored the race for several years but decided to join the competition this year as well as continue to sponsor it.
"We just want to be more involved in the community as much as we can," Montgomery said. "This will be a great team-building exercise for all of our employees as well."
Montgomery said the team, Pepsi Paddlers, practiced Tuesday and is feeling prepared, even though most of the crew has never rowed as a team. Roughly 80% of the Pepsi team is made up of company employees.
"I rowed once seven years ago on the Austin High School team when I was a student there, so I'm pretty green myself," he said. "I think we may have a little bit of a struggle. But, if we can keep the same pace going, I think we can be pretty successful."
Madison City Schools Superintendent Ed Nichols, formerly superintendent of Decatur City Schools, has served as announcer and color commentator for the races since they began. Lovelace said Nichols will return this year alongside co-host Marie Waxel of WAAY 31 News.
Jason Palmer, a Decatur City Schools board member and State Farm insurance agent, called the races the perfect kickoff to summer.
"You get out there and count on Ed Nichols on the mic — he's doing what he does to keep it entertaining," Palmer said. "When you talk to anyone who's part of the dragon boat races or the company that helps run it, they'll tell you, 'Decatur, by far, is one of our best ones.' Everyone comes out to support it. To me, it's one of our favorite events that Decatur does."
Before the 2024 races, Palmer competed in every Dragon Boat Race as a paddler with the Lynn Layton Cruzers, except during their first year. The team won five consecutive races, with their final victory in 2022. He raced with a new team, The Lumberjacks, in 2023 and 2024, but chose to sit out this year.
"I'm still going to be up there and still be involved — just in a different capacity," Palmer said.
Palmer, who also serves on the Foundation's board of directors, said the event is a key part of funding hospital services and equipment. He pointed to the hospital's mobile medical unit, which was funded through a campaign that began in May 2018.
A large portion of that funding came from the 2019 Dragon Boat Race & Festival, according to Foundation Development Director Larry Payne.
Palmer said he always encourages new rowers to perfect their timing before hitting the water.
"It's about watching the person in front of you and doing what they do," Palmer said. "The key is to put your best people up front — everyone behind them will mimic their stroke. I always say to plan for a minute and 20 seconds ... because you're going to give it all you've got for a minute and 20 seconds."
— [email protected] or 256-340-2442.
Continue reading...
According to Meteorologist Robert Boyd with the National Weather Service in Huntsville, there is a 20% chance of rain showers Saturday afternoon in the Decatur area, with highs in the low 70s. Rain is expected to continue into the night, but no storms are currently predicted.
Noel Lovelace, vice president of development for the hospital and president of the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation, said funds raised this year will support the hospital's Hologic Affirm Breast Biopsy Guidance System, which was acquired in March.
The event will begin with a drum ceremony at 8:30 a.m., featuring a Japanese drumming routine performed by the Daikin Taiko drum team. The traditional "dotting of the eye" will also take place, where the eyes of the dragon heads on the boats are painted red by an executive from presenting sponsor Toray Composite Materials America Inc.
"The first race will be at 9 o'clock," Lovelace said. "The Iron Ore Challenge will be around 11, and then we'll break for lunch."
Students from Auburn University and the University of Alabama will face off in the Iron Ore Challenge. Afternoon heats will resume at 12:30, followed by an awards ceremony after 3 p.m.
"We give out lots of awards, including a Dragon Tail Award for the slowest boat," Lovelace said. "We award championships to first-, second- and third-place finalists in five different flights."
Last year's event raised more than $100,000. If that goal is matched again Saturday, the foundation will have raised approximately $1.2 million over the past 12 years of the event, according to Lovelace.
New teams participating this year include Decatur-based businesses D2 Sports & Outdoors and Point Mallard Nutrition. Decatur's Pepsi Bottling Group will also compete for the first time.
Drake Montgomery, marketing and public relations coordinator for Pepsi, said the company has sponsored the race for several years but decided to join the competition this year as well as continue to sponsor it.
"We just want to be more involved in the community as much as we can," Montgomery said. "This will be a great team-building exercise for all of our employees as well."
Montgomery said the team, Pepsi Paddlers, practiced Tuesday and is feeling prepared, even though most of the crew has never rowed as a team. Roughly 80% of the Pepsi team is made up of company employees.
"I rowed once seven years ago on the Austin High School team when I was a student there, so I'm pretty green myself," he said. "I think we may have a little bit of a struggle. But, if we can keep the same pace going, I think we can be pretty successful."
Madison City Schools Superintendent Ed Nichols, formerly superintendent of Decatur City Schools, has served as announcer and color commentator for the races since they began. Lovelace said Nichols will return this year alongside co-host Marie Waxel of WAAY 31 News.
Jason Palmer, a Decatur City Schools board member and State Farm insurance agent, called the races the perfect kickoff to summer.
"You get out there and count on Ed Nichols on the mic — he's doing what he does to keep it entertaining," Palmer said. "When you talk to anyone who's part of the dragon boat races or the company that helps run it, they'll tell you, 'Decatur, by far, is one of our best ones.' Everyone comes out to support it. To me, it's one of our favorite events that Decatur does."
Before the 2024 races, Palmer competed in every Dragon Boat Race as a paddler with the Lynn Layton Cruzers, except during their first year. The team won five consecutive races, with their final victory in 2022. He raced with a new team, The Lumberjacks, in 2023 and 2024, but chose to sit out this year.
"I'm still going to be up there and still be involved — just in a different capacity," Palmer said.
Palmer, who also serves on the Foundation's board of directors, said the event is a key part of funding hospital services and equipment. He pointed to the hospital's mobile medical unit, which was funded through a campaign that began in May 2018.
A large portion of that funding came from the 2019 Dragon Boat Race & Festival, according to Foundation Development Director Larry Payne.
Palmer said he always encourages new rowers to perfect their timing before hitting the water.
"It's about watching the person in front of you and doing what they do," Palmer said. "The key is to put your best people up front — everyone behind them will mimic their stroke. I always say to plan for a minute and 20 seconds ... because you're going to give it all you've got for a minute and 20 seconds."
— [email protected] or 256-340-2442.
Continue reading...
