SINGAPORE – After an absence of almost six years, dragon boating made its return to Marina Bay, in support of mental health awareness in the Republic.
Themed Rise Above The Waves, the IHH Healthcare x Singapore Sea Regatta was launched on Sept 13.
It is believed to be the first time a dragon boating event has been held at Marina Bay since before the Covid-19 pandemic, with the last such event being the DBS Marina Regatta in 2019.
More than 1,800 participants from 64 teams across five countries are taking part in the two-day event, which also features a carnival open to the public.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung paddled in the opening race – called the Minister’s Cup – as part of a contingent from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The 200m race – which flagged off at about 10.30am despite the rain – saw 70 participants from MOH, the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and IHH Healthcare, as well as public healthcare clusters SingHealth, NHG Health and the National University Health System.
Funds raised during the event will go towards SAMH.
Mental health was chosen as this year’s focus as it is still something people do not talk about enough, said festival head Adeline Chi.
“We wanted to use this festival to try to break the stigma,” said Ms Chi, who is a senior physiotherapist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
In June, the Republic launched a
round-the-clock mental health helpline and textline service
as part of the country’s National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy.
first Singapore Sea Regatta
, held in 2024 at the Water Sports Centre in Kallang, focused on breast cancer awareness, with funds going to the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF).
Hospital operator IHH Healthcare is the title sponsor of the event until 2027.
Dr Prem Kumar Nair, chief executive of IHH Healthcare, told The Straits Times that future events will see more corporations taking part, as well as more international participants.
Teams from software giant SAP, Temasek Polytechnic and the Breast Cancer Foundation are also participating in the event this year.
In 1996, a study by the University of British Columbia found that for breast cancer survivors, dragon boating helps prevent the onset of lymphedema – a chronic condition that causes swelling in the arms and legs after cancer treatment due to damage to the lymphatic system.
The BCF Paddlers in the Pink group taking part at the IHH Healthcare x Singapore Sea Regatta on Sept 13.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Among the 40 paddlers from the BCF Paddlers in the Pink group taking part in the Sept 13 event was Ms Grace Gan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.
The 50-year-old executive assistant, who has been cancer-free for the past two years, said that in addition to the physical benefits, taking part in dragon boating with other breast cancer survivors has helped with her mental resilience by giving her a sense of camaraderie.
“They went through similar treatments, so they can understand and relate to what we are going through,” she said.
Mental healthDragon boatingOng Ye KungMinistry of Health