Dragon Boat Races Back This Summer at Wheeling Heritage Port
WHEELING -- A popular area fundraiser will take to the Ohio River once again this summer, and now more than ever, it’s all about teamwork making the dream work.
The sixth year of Wheeling’s Dragon Boat Race will officially make waves this year after a two-year hiatus, as the races will be held for the first time since the pandemic put the boats in dry dock temporarily. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Heritage Port in Wheeling.
King’s Daughters Child Care Center has been putting on these wildly fun events not only as a way to raise funds for the nonprofit center, but to raise awareness of the needs for child care in the Ohio Valley.
"We started the event to bring light to the center and to child care in the Ohio Valley," Jamie Remp, executive director of King’s Daughters Child Care Center in East Wheeling, said. "It is a lot of fun -- and it’s all teamwork. It doesn’t matter how strong or weak you are. If you’re not paddling together, you’re not going anywhere. It’s hard, but it’s really fun."
Remp said last week that there were already 15 teams signed up to participate in this year’s Dragon Boat Race.
"We’re capping it at 20, so we’re very close to selling out, which is great," she said, noting that a few more teams were needed. "We anticipate raising probably between $20,000 and $25,000 for the event this year, which is also great. And that will all go towards our operating costs."
The Health Plan is the title sponsor for this year’s event, and a number of other local businesses and organizations are also supporting the rowing race on the river. Some businesses have race boats, while other boats are comprised of families or other organizations in the community.
Each team consists of 22 people. There must be 20 paddlers (of which, eight must be women) and one drummer to keep rowing rhythm. An experienced steerer will be provided to each team.
Races kick off at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 27 after opening ceremonies at 8 a.m. Each team will have two 250-meter heats on race day, with the top 12 teams moving on to the final round on race day.
A company from Tennessee - Dynamic LLC - provides the 46-foot-long dragon boats and helps coordinate the races. Boats arrive early in the week in order to give teams a chance to practice, which is a good idea. Some teams make time to take to the water before the event to get their rhythm down, while others cram early in the morning before the event for a crash course trial run.
"It is imperative to practice," Remp laughed.
The event is a big fundraiser for King’s Daughters Child Care Center, which has been serving the community for 133 years. The center is a private, nonprofit organization that provides licensed child care services at its facility at 61-13th St. in Wheeling. Child care programs are offered weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to children ages 6 weeks to pre-K (5 years of age). Enrollment at the center averages 70 children, with around 40% of participating families receiving need-based financial assistance.
And the demand for quality child care in the area is nearly off the charts.
"We have a waitlist of almost 200 children," Remp said. "There’s a definite need in the Ohio Valley. Our biggest need is for kids under 2, so that’s our focus. But we serve anybody who needs it, and our wait list is first-come, first-served. I always tell parents in need of child care to get on other wait lists in the area, so I’m sure there are duplicates in the area. But we do not have any space in the center for another child."
Remp said earlier this year, King’s Daughters purchased property next door and demolished the building with hopes of expanding their facility through a connected building.
"We’re looking at at least two classrooms, which would be about 20-24 children, and maybe add a third classroom," she said. "It will make a big dent in the waitlist."
King’s Daughters also owns other surrounding properties at the East Wheeling location.
"So our plans are to kind of make it a little campus up here, so that’s what we’re working on," Remp said. "We are by the book. We run a quality program. That’s why it’s so successful. It’s a central location that’s easy on and easy off."
In addition to fund-raising events and community support through sponsorships and foundation contributions, King’s Daughters has also applied for funding through the city of Wheeling for American Rescue Plan Act funding. The ARPA funding has strict guidelines, and child care has been identified as a need that officials have said is eligible for the federal pandemic relief funding.
"There is a need," Remp said of the child care demand in the valley."It’s really needed, and staffing is always an issue, so we’re always hiring."
King’s Daughters is governed by a community based volunteer board of directors and employs a staff of around 24. Its mission statement says that "King’s Daughters Child Care Center cares for children in a nurturing, safe environment encouraging educational experiences, which promotes social, emotional, physical and cognitive development."
For more information or to register for this year’s Dragon Boat Race in Wheeling, visit www.dragonboatwheeling.com. For more information on King’s Daughters Child Care Center, visit www.kdwheeling.org.