One of Vancouver's iconic annual fundraising events, "Walk with the Dragon", celebrated its 30th year at Lumbermen's Arch in Stanley Park on July 19.

More than 10,000 participants took part in this year’s walk and helped raise total of $400,180 Canadian dollars.

The money will be used for the continuance and enhancement of social services at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. for the Metro Vancouver communities.

The event organizer, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation, is a charitable foundation responsible for raising money for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. — one of BC’s largest social service agencies — and its affiliate organizations to support their mandate for the betterment of the community and the well-being of local Chinese immigrants.

“Since the event’s inauguration in 1986, over 12 million dollars have been raised to provide appropriate services and programs to support the betterment of the community. This includes the vulnerable population of seniors and youth,” said Sing Lim Yeo, chair of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation.

This year’s proceeds will cover areas including senior health, youth leadership, community establishment and family counseling services for new Canadians, these will help to fill the gaps of provincial and federal funding.

Every year, “Walk with the Dragon” garners the support of government officials and prominent community leaders. Leading the pack this year are BC Premier Christy Clark and Canada’s Minister for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney.

The event began by “waking up” the 100-foot long robust S.U.C.C.E.S.S. dragon from its year-long hibernation in a symbolic Dragon Eye-Dotting Ceremony by Premier Clark, which “gives life” to the dragon, according to Chinese folklore. Once the Dragon was awakened, it led an entourage of participants, including more than 300 teams, on a 7-km walk around the Stanley Park seawall.

“From a gathering of a couple of hundred participants to today’s attendance of 12,000, the most significant change of ‘Walk with the dragon’ is the faces of our supporters, said Bill Lau and Johnny Tsang, co-chairs of the event.

“The event was at first predominantly attended by Chinese-Canadians, and it now mirrors the diverse cultures of Canada. This year’s walk celebrates and embraces multiculturalism, and our performers include Latin, Philippine, Japanese and Korean,” Tsang added.

With the proceeds from fundraising events such as “Walk with the Dragon”, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in 2014 provided more than 143,000 client-services to metro Vancouver communities.

Photo: BC Premier Christy Clark talks with a child during the dragon eye-dotting ceremony at the 30th S.U.C.C.E.S.S Walk with the Dragon fundraiser on July 19. [PHOTO BY DANWEI BU/FOR CHINA DAILY]