Paddles Up! 6th Annual Dragon Boat Race & Festival

Toray Composite Materials America, Inc., Decatur plant, hosted the 6th Annual Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Dragon Boat Race and Festival on May 13, 2017 at Point Mallard Park in Decatur, AL.  This year there were 62 teams consisting of 25 participants per team.  That is over 1500 participants in this year’s festival.  Each team is required to pay a registration fee to participate in the races and each boat has 20 paddlers in the boat at race time.

Toray has been the primary sponsor each year this event has been held and all proceeds are donated to the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation to purchase equipment that will be used in the hospital.  This year the event raised $138,014 that will be used to purchase PFT, EEG, & Cardio Pulmonary Equipment.

This event has quickly become one of the most anticipated fundraising events in Decatur with Toray receiving tremendous appreciation throughout the community for hosting this wonderful event.   Since its inception the Dragon Boat Races have raised over $750,000 for the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation and has purchased many items such as Panda Warmers for Labor and Delivery, Defibrillators, Fetal Monitors and Cardiac Monitors.

The Race day begins with a large festival atmosphere and race anticipations.  After the dotting of the Eye of the Dragon Ceremony all racers gather at designated team tents and wait eagerly for their race times.  The teams run two qualifying races with the fastest times continuing on to the final races in each division.

This year Toray had three teams in the races and two of the teams finished in 2nd and 3rd place in their division.  We had a tremendous turnout of participants and supporters from Toray.  Employees are already planning their race teams for next year’s event.

Congratulations to all of the team members from Toray that participated and a big thanks to the community for supporting this very worthwhile event.