Long and colorfully painted boats glided over the Patuxent River on Saturday, Aug.19, as Southern Maryland Community Resources hosted its annual Dragon Boat Festival fundraiser near Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Solomons Island, Maryland.
The event marked Southern Maryland Community Resources’ 10th anniversary. SMCR is a nonprofit organization that supports persons with developmental differences through programs, including inclusive social and recreational events, throughout Southern Maryland.
Bonnie Elward, the founder of Southern Maryland Community Resources, said these events are important because they provide visibility so the community recognizes those differently abled.
“It’s so important for people to understand the needs of our people with disabilities and to know their strengths, skills, and gifts that they have for us. That they’re not put into another category,” Elward said. “To have the community come together, to see so many people come together with their treasures, creativity, and competitiveness, to be able to support people.”
This year marked the first time the Dragon Boat Race included exhibition races with differently abled persons participating. Amy Griffin, vice chair of the SMCR ‘s board of directors, said this was an exciting aspect of the day’s events.
“We have three teams racing in our exhibition race, and it’s a mix of everyone, and we’re really excited they are getting the opportunity to get out there, showcase their skills, and race,” Griffin said.
None of those involved are professionals at dragon boat racing. Teams are allowed to “practice race” a week before the event.
“They learn how to paddle, learn how to drum in the evenings,” Griffin said. “I’ve raced, and I’ve been the main drummer. The drummer keeps the tempo going for it. It’s fun, I love it.”
The “Dotting of the Eye” ceremony kicks off the event the night before the races. The racing boats arrive painted to look like dragons. However, their eyes do not have pupils. During this ceremony, teams paint the dragon’s eyes to “wake” the “sleeping dragon.”
Cardinal Wilton Gregory spoke at the festival from a gazebo along the water that faced the races.
“Here, everyone is included. Just as it should be, just as it is God’s plan. What we are certain of is that we should never have a world where there is an ‘us and them’ divide,” Cardinal Gregory said.
The cardinal praised the organization for its inclusive work in the community.
“SMCR leads the way for all of us to realize that there should be only a world where we, together as one community of God’s people, have opportunities and the distinct honor to celebrate being one family,” he said.
The cardinal was presented with a framed print from a local artist from the first dragon boat race event. The artwork featured a dragon and the Governor Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge that connects to Solomons Island.
Therese Thiedeman is the program director at Southern Maryland Community Resources. She has worked with the organization for about three and a half years.
“We try to provide opportunities. They’re inclusive, so people with disabilities, people without disabilities, [we] get them involved in the community,” Thiedeman said.
Although Thiedeman only works tangentially with the dragon boat race, she believes it is an important event.
“This event, besides being a major fundraiser, is a major friend-raiser. This lets people know we exist, who we are, what our job is, and realize that there are people in our community that may not appear to have the abilities that they have, but they have abilities of their own that they have to share,” Thiedeman said. “We all have abilities for this world.”
