Join the sport that’s bringing breast cancer survivors together
Before 1995, there were serious doubts about whether women with breast cancer should do strenuous upper body exercise.
Lymphoedema was a huge concern, but not much was known about its cause. Many doctors recommended that women avoid vigorous arm movements after breast cancer surgery.
Dr Don Mackenzie had different ideas. He believed that dragon boating, a form of repetitive upper body exercise, could stop women from developing lymphoedema and help them recover from surgery. Twenty-four brave ladies took part in his first trial, forming ‘Abreast in a Boat’, the world’s first breast cancer dragon boat team.
He was right, and now, twenty years later, boatloads of breast cancer survivors get together all around the world for exercise, camaraderie and a bit of friendly competition. Not only are they having fun, but they’re racing hard, changing the way society thinks about cancer and chronic disease.
One of those is the Pink Dragons, located in Auckland, who have just celebrated 10 years of paddling.
Unfortunately, their team numbers have dwindled this year, through injuries, relocations, illness, and busy personal lives. They’re now looking for 8-10 new paddlers to bring the team back to a full complement of 22 paddlers.
To join the Pink Dragons, you don’t need any previous paddling experience. Like most teams, they just want breast cancer survivors who can commit to training two evening a week through the summer. Here’s what Anna Southern, a Pink Dragons team member, had to say about her experience:
“Padding is one of those experiences that once you start, it becomes hard to give up. Despite a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer several years ago, I was determined to keep living and for me it was important to exercise to stay well. I was introduced to the "Pinkies" near the end of a season, and I kept returning because of amazing friendship, camaraderie, and fun, and because I loved being part of a team that has to work together, paddling in harmony with strength to achieve the goal.
“It also reminded me that I wasn't limited by my health, and I gained the confidence to push myself harder to get fitter and healthier, while being supported by a dynamic and outstanding group of caring ladies, who have all lived through the trauma of breast cancer.”
Liz Butcher, another “Pinkie”, describes joining the team as “finding a family I never knew I needed; finding my strength; being responsible to others to not give up and always to strive to be better; being supported, encouraged, challenged, inspired and loved.”
“Becoming a Pinkie meant finding a family that supports and inspires me, challenges me and strengthens me. It's what we do for each other, being there and pulling together - on and off the water. We come together in support and a common goal.”
If you’re interested in joining a breast cancer dragon boating team, you can do so in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Taranaki, Wellington, Marlborough or Christchurch. We’ve got contact details for each of the teams on our website.