The 37th Annual Silly Boat Regatta took place on a sunny afternoon at Nanaimo’s Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday.

Kimberlee Howland, a Family Resource Navigator at Nanaimo Child Development Centre, said that while the centre’s therapeutic work is funded by the province, other services such as a five-week special needs summer camp for kids, education work for parents and peer support group depend on the organization’s annual fundraiser.

This year saw 30 boats, which are made entirely from recycled materials, entered in the races raising over $100,000 for the charity. But half the fun of the event is the creativity in making the boats and if they will actually stay afloat.

“There's a lot of competition and a lot of determination and a lot of smiles,” said Howland. “So I think they're all going to make it. What speed they make it in will be a different story though.”

One team this year was the McKee family who was racing a boat made resembling a pack of Chiclets Gum in memory of family friend Kristie Irvine who died in April.

“She loved the silly boats,’ said the team’s veteran captain Janyce McKee. “She loved getting people together and having fun. We know that she's up there cheering us on.”

Kristie’s sister Kelly Irvine was also in town for the event to meet Kristie's friends on the team.

“It means a lot to be able to come down here and be a part of this," she said. “I feel like it makes me closer to her.”

Like any competitor, Irvine had some pre-race jitters.

“I just hope that we don't fall off the boat because it's probably a little chilly out there,” Irvine said.

The Chick-lets not only stayed on their boat, they won their first heat and placed third in the finals also picking up the best team spirit award. But more important was that they raised almost $2,700 for the Child Development Centre, the most of any family team.

Island Red Cedar Construction’s team won the races for the third year in a row with a time of one minute and thirty seconds.

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