THERESA: Has anyone ever paddled in the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival? It's coming up Oct.2, and now's the time to start organizing your teams.

"We have almost 50 teams registered to date and can only take 100. We start training next week and go a week before the Festival," says Carol Lee Lindner, executive director of the event. A fundraiser for Fox Chase Cancer Center, the races are open to anyone, even people with no paddling experience. A registration fee of $1000 ($2500 for corporate teams) and $100 in pledges per team member covers registration for a team of 20 paddlers, one drummer and four alternates, three free practices with a coach, all the necessary equipment and a great day of racing to the beat of the drums on the Schuykill River.

Rules for a mixed team require that each team have at least 8 women. And if you'd like more than three practices, race organizers offer those for $200 a piece (just $10 a team member...) I've been to the festival as a spectator and it is a wonderful event. I would love to participate on a team.

Anyone else up for this? And anyone who's ever paddled in the races--- please tell us about your experiences!

LAURIE: I'm in!

JILL: I wanted very much to do this and was actually thinking of taking up rowing beyond this race. But I've heard that it's hard on your back and I have enough problems there already. But if you find out otherwise, I'd absolutely love to do this.

JENICE: If you can promise I won't drown, count me in. I've always wanted to try rowing.

KIMBERLY: I have never rowed before but the Dragon Race looks quite exhilarating. Several Dragon Race Team members train at 12th Street Gym because they have this special rowing machine. It is intense!