The water was calm, but our dragons were fierce on August 25, when the T4G In-Oar-Vators hit the water for the annual Saint John Dragon Boat Festival.

Team members were determined to make a big splash this year at the fundraiser for St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation … and their determination paid off. T4G was one of the top fundraising teams at this year’s event, raising a total of $8021.17 through the Dragon Boat fundraiser and the T4G-sponsored Floodstock summer concert.

“These days, even fundraising is a bit of a dog eat dog situation,” explains T4G’s Mark Ryan, who helped lead the team along with co-worker Karlene Wall. “There are so many fundraisers out there, and they’re all important.”

“As a company, T4G is happy to support you if you’re willing to do the work for your cause. This event helps our community grow stronger, which leads to helping others.”

This year, funds raised through the Dragon Boat Festival go toward purchasing specialized equipment for the hospital’s Urology Department and Prostate Clinic.

“Men’s Health was a big one for me,” explains Mark, about why he was especially keen to raise funds this year. “But every year St. Joe’s chooses a great cause related to health in our community.  It’s always something that touches someone on every team on a very personal level.”

In addition to supporting an important cause, the T4G In-Oar-Vators managed to have a lot of fun at the event too. Our team created a sense of team spirit and a fun place for spectators to visit by designing their rest station to look like a winter scene. Who needs a simple shelter or a tent when you can have an igloo?

“The crowd loved our Igloo,” says Karlene. “I had a couple people ask ‘wouldn’t it have been easier to use a simple shelter?’ I would always reply ‘T4G doesn’t do simple, we made you stop and ask didn’t we?’ Everyone also loved the cut-out of the snowman we had so they could take their photos with it!”

Now Mark, Karlene and the rest of the T4G Dragon Boat team are looking forward to 2013, when they plan to raise even more funds for St. Joe’s.

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