20 Years Memento of International Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Paddling. "Our Stories"

Elsa Alonso

“Remeras Rosas La Plata”
“Remeras Rosas La Plata”
remerasrosaslaplata@hotmail.com
http://remerasrosaslaplata.blogspot.com.ar/
Natalia Sanchez Navarte, María del Carmen Urtizberea, Ana María Barcelonna, Lia A. Del Padro, Jenny
Bolatti, Cleusa Elena Alonso, Vanesa Magali, Stella Nuñez, Alejandra Ezquerro, Rosana Fernandez, Ana
María di Marco.

Remeras Rosas, La Plata, Argentina
Page 2 of 2

Dragons Abreast Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Dragons Abreast Ballarat was formed in June 2005. We have 35 members with ages ranging from 30s to 80s.
Contact : secretary.dragonsabreastballarat@gmail.com . Mail PO Box 569W, Ballarat West VIC 3350 Australia
A short History of Dragons Abreast Ballarat (from our 10 th Anniversary Publication)
The screening of “In the Pink” on ABC Australian Story in June 2004, about the first Dragon’s Abreast club in
Australia, provided the inspiration and impetus to get the ball rolling in Ballarat. At the launch of The Young
Women’s Breast Cancer Support Group in Ballarat in 2004 the idea of a team was spoken about by Gabby
Boemans. The inaugural gathering was held at Aquinas Catholic University Ballarat on February 10th 2005.
Then Coordinator of Dragons Abreast Victoria, Pru Menzies, from Melbourne, spoke to the group about the
Dragons Abreast movement, explained its origins, aims, goals and constitution and . Pru encouraged members
of the group to persevere and establish a club.
The first committee meeting was held on Thursday 2nd June 2005 and fundraising commenced. Against all
kinds of odds the members of Dragons Abreast Ballarat forged on…the main spanner in the works was a dry
lake due to a severe and prolonged drought which for several years meant any paddling to be done had to take
place elsewhere with the established clubs in, Geelong, Bendigo and Melbourne coming to our rescue. Our
long awaited dragon boat arrived on 27th April 2008 despite the lack of water in the lake the Blessing of
“Intrepid” by a Buddhist Monk was celebrated on 22nd March 2009. It was not until 22nd November 2010
that our intrepid dragon boat ventured into the waters of Lake Wendouree for the first time.
Our lake has remained full of water since and we have enjoyed many hours of paddling on it, at regattas
throughout our State of Victoria, throughout Australia and overseas and members have attended every IBCPC
international event. We celebrated our 10th Anniversary this year with an evening on our beautiful lake in a
paddle steamer, a birthday lunch and booklet publication and look forward to reaching our 20 year
celebration.
We celebrated the 20th anniversary of Abreast in a Boat by paddling on a cold winter’s morning and then
gathering for morning tea at our home, the Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club

We are a team of thirty-three Breast Cancer
survivors and their supporters who paddle
together in a Dragon Boat for fun, fitness and friendship;
celebrating life after a diagnosis of Breast Cancer.
Our ages range from 48 to 70 years and we train
twice a week on beautiful Lake Weeroona
in the heart of Bendigo.
Dragons Abreast Bendigo
Victoria, Australia
How we started
In 2002 two Bendigo Breast Cancer Survivors (Faye Arthur and Alison
Woodman) travelled to Melbourne each week to train with the first
Victorian “Dragon’s Abreast” boat crew, and then competed in the Dragon
Boat Festival as part of Moomba in March of 2002.
After receiving interest from many Breast Cancer Survivors in
Bendigo they decided to start a team locally.
Contact person:
Donna Harrison
Dragons Abreast Bendigo
bendigo@dragonsabreast.com.au
They were put in touch with the Gunbower Aquatic Festival after
being informed that they had a boat, which they would gladly hand
over to Dragons Abreast. After many hours of labour from
members and some helpful husbands, as well as kind donations of
materials from local businesses, we were able to refurbish the boat
and were training on Lake Weeroona by November 2003.
Pink Paddle Day - Bendigo 2014
Celebrating 20th anniversary of ‘Abreast in a Boat’.
Although in our winter break we had a special paddle on 13 th June to
celebrate the 20 th anniversary of Abreast In a Boat. Our aim was to
honour Dr Don McKenzie for initiating such a wonderful sport for
Breast Cancer Survivors and, despite the thinking at the time,
proving it can benefit our recovery in so many ways. Our sense of
wellbeing has been enriched by our Involvement in this fantastic
sport.
13 th June 2015
Faye Arthur,
our foundation angel
- with our first boat in 2003.

Dragons Abreast Bribie Island—Pinkaboutit
bribiepinkdragons @gmail.com www.dragonsabreast.com.au/bribie-island
We are such a lucky group to paddle in the truly beautiful Pumicestone Passage, a
narrow body of water between Bribie Island and the south east coast of
Queensland, Australia. We often share the water with dolphins, turtles, an
occasional dugong, pelicans and a host of other birds.
DABI was formed in 2008 by a group of very energetic
breast cancer survivor women who had experienced the
benefits of dragon boat paddling with another group. In
2009 their hard work was rewarded when a local women’s
business group raised money for our first boat ‘Spirit of
Bribie’. Since then our club has grown steadily and we have
now added ‘Little Spirit’, a 10 seater dragon boat. We have
been incredibly fortunate to enjoy exceptional support from
our local community.
Membership is now over 50 of which 46 are
paddlers. Our youngest is 54 and our oldest
(who, we are very proud to add is the oldest
paddler IN THE WORLD) is 92!!
Paddling is always memorable on our special waterway but highlights for some members have been paddling in
Italy in 2013, Sarasota in 2014 and later this year some will be holidaying in Turkey where a paddle or two is
planned. And now we can begin to focus on Italy in 2018!
To celebrate 20 years of breast cancer paddling
DABI invited local medical practitioners to join us in a
paddle to experience what we’re all about, thus hoping
they will realise the benefits and encourage their
breast cancer patients to come along.
We also arranged a display at our local Seaside Museum showcasing not only the 20 year event, but also Dragons
Abreast Australia and our own Dragons Abreast Bribie Island to raise awareness in the wider community.

Celebrating Abreast in a Boat’s 20 th anniversary – Brisbane style….
Dragons Abreast Brisbane was established in 2001, and has grown from a fledgling club to one of
almost 90 members. The group regularly paddle on Saturday mornings with 2 boats on the water.
The team have participated in many events including the 55km endurance paddle of the Ord
River, the DAB festival in Sydney each October, and will paddle at the Club Crew World
Championships in Adelaide in 2016.
On 13 th June 2015 Brisbane celebrated the 20 th anniversary by holding 2 events. The first event
was a community come and try morning to offer new breast cancer survivor paddlers the
opportunity to try various paddling experiences in dragon boats, outrigger canoes and kayaks.
The second event, held in the afternoon, was a “Bubbles, Fascinators and Bow Ties” gala
afternoon at The Colmslie hotel. Members and friends of DAB glammed up for a fun afternoon of
champers, nibbles and jazz music. The room sparkled with all sorts of fascinator head wear, pink
decorations plus various flags and banners.
There was an amazing memorabilia display of club history from past domestic and international
regatta campaigns including Rome in 2002, Shanghai in 2004, Singapore in 2006, AIA in Australia
in 2007, Peterborough in 2010, and Sarasota in 2014. Guests were surprised how far the
international breast cancer paddling experience has grown. The formal part of our afternoon
took a past, present and future theme. We had the pleasure of hearing from many speakers
including Susan Tully from DA NT, Janelle Gamble a founding member of DAA and of DAB, Jo
Parry a current Board member of DAA and recent Vice President of the IBCPC, Leonie Young a
senior researcher at the Kim Walters ‘Choices’ breast cancer support program, and international
motivational speaker Sonia McDonald, Director of Leadership HQ.
So Brisbane
certainly
celebrated the
20 th Anniversary of
Abreast in a Boat
with style and
glamour, on and
off the water!
Team Name: Dragons Abreast Brisbane – team ‘Missabittatitti’
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Team Established in 2001
Current membership: 86 members, aged from 39-85 years.
Contact information: brisbane@dragonsabreast.com.au
Website: http:// www.brisbaneriverdragons.com/dragons-abreast

Canberra was the second DAA team in Australia, commencing
paddling in 1999. We celebrated our 15th anniversary in 2014 with a big celebration dinner. Our
original team name was "Tickled Pink" but we changed to "GoAnna" in 2014. We continue to
grow in numbers each year and some of our original paddlers are still active members.
We have competed in the International Breast Cancer Paddling Commission events for
breast cancer survivors in Australia, Canada and Florida. Many members are already
saving for the event in Florence, Italy in 2018! We also compete in various interstate events and
sent a team to Hong Kong this year returning with numerous trophies. In 2014 we paddled 54
kms of the Ord River in Western Australia!
But competition is not our only interest! We have a variety of social activities and simply enjoy
paddling on our beautiful Lake Burley Griffin. Our "Musters" (gathering of members with dinner
and short program of fun) continue to be a social highlight each year. The DA Canberra Annual
Corporate Regatta has promoted our group throughout Canberra and been a very successful
community event.
We have two boats – a 20 seater named GoAnna and a baby 10-seater boat called Gecko,
which are located in Mariner Place, Yarralumla. We paddle regularly three times a week
throughout the year, despite Canberra's cold winters, and compete regularly in the ACT regattas.
We celebrated your 20 th anniversary at our annual Dragon Muster on Tuesday 16 June 2015. As you
can see in the attached pictured we had 29 ladies in all shades of pink.
Our web and Facebook links
https://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/groups/placedetails/1
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragons-Abreast-Canberra/448649108487643

Greetings from Australia
Our club is Dragons Abreast Clarence Valley and we paddle out of a small fishing town
called YAMBA which is at the mouth of the Clarence River on the east coast in the
Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia.
Our club was incorporated on 25 th July 2005 and so we are celebrating our 10 th
anniversary this year. At present we have 20 members and the ages range between 50
and 75.
Over the years our club has evolved from being a sports club to a purely recreational
paddling club as we found there was a need for this type of facility in our area. There
is also a sporting dragon boat club in town to cater for the needs of those who are
more energetic!
We are blessed by having a sponsor in Yamba Marina who allow us to store our 2 boats –
a 20 seater called Spirit of the Clarence and a 10 se– plus
all our other equipment down at the Marina for a minimal fee.
We celebrated the 20 th year of breast cancer paddling by throwing a BBQ and paddle
and invited the sporting dragon boat club, all previous members of our club and various
others. This generated huge publicity for us as we made front page news in our local
newspapers!
Cindy Hewitt: – Assistant Co-ordinator/Membership, DA Clarence Valley

Dragons Abreast Coffs Coast
Coordinator: Judi Trollope
Telephone: 0411 084 917
Address: PO Box 1344 Coffs Harbour 2450
Email: coffscoast@dragonsabreast.com.au
Facebook: Dragons Abreast Coffs Coast
Website: www.dragonsabreast.com.au
Coffs Harbour is located on the east coast of New South Wales, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane,
Australia, Dragons Abreast Coffs Coast (DACC) was established in November 2007
Membership currently 9, aged between 40 and 65.
DACC formed when a small group of dedicated breast cancer survivors, led by their local Breast Care
Nurse, had a vision of encouraging a healthier community and to assist with physical and psychological
health. High on our list of priorities is having fun, whilst promoting breast cancer awareness.
Our members paddle locally, regionally, interstate and overseas, some members being fortunate enough
having participated at IBCPC events in Caloundra, Peterborough and Sarasota. Some of our members
have also paddled on the Ord River, a 55 kilometre marathon in Western Australia.
DACC has a strong affiliation with the Encore Program, a program which provides gentle exercises for
women who are recuperating from Breast Cancer. DACC members attend and provide information about
dragon boating and its physical and psychological benefits. We also hold ‘Come and Try’ days for the
Encore attendees and other survivors who are curious about Dragons Abreast and dragon boating.
Our club is most fortunate to have been supported by the ‘Coffs Harbour Pink Silks Committee’. Each
January the proceeds from a horse race event is dedicated to raising funds to support organisations that
promote awareness and support of women’s health issues locally. In 2014 the Pink Silks committee very
generously donated the funds for us to purchase our first dragon boat, a trailer and equipment. In
August 2014 our new boat, which we named ‘Kuan Yin’ (the Chinese Goddess of Compassion, Healing
and Strength) was launched at a traditional blessing ceremony performed by a Buddhist Monk.
In April 2014 DACC held a successful Breast Cancer Awareness event with the loan of a Prosthetic Breast
from Cosmopolitan magazine. The breast had several different types of lumps within it which
represented some of the different types of breast cancer. Our event was held at the local market and
members of the public were invited to feel and identify the lumps, with the assistance of local doctors,
who kindly donated their time to help answer questions.
We paddle on the beautiful Bellinger River at Mylestom and Bonville Creek at Sawtell and welcome
travelers to come and join us. We celebrated the 20 th AIAB milestone with a glorious paddle on Bonville
Creek and feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful sisterhood.

DRAGONS ABREAST TASMANIA HOBART
(DATH), established in 2002, is perhaps the
southern-most dragon boat club, situated on
the Derwent River in Hobart, Tasmania, an
island off southern Australia.
We currently have 39 members ranging in age
from 49 to 75.
Contact: hobart@dragonsabreast.com.au
DATH was the first dragon boat club in the
state and was established in 2002 by an
irrepressible committee formed soon after an
Encore facilitator returned from Darwin
where the “pink flotilla” was growing. Our
first boat named Boobialla (coincidently a
plant that grows along our river) arrived in
2003. She has since been joined by 2 other
boats, Dragon Fly and Weedy Sea Dragon.
The weedy sea dragon is our logo (see above).
From a small group of survivors and
supporters we have grown to be the face of
breast cancer survivor paddling in the south of
the state.
Many sponsors provided funds in the early
days to help establish the club. We regularly
support cancer organisations including Breast
Cancer Network Australia, Cancer Council, and
the oncology unit at the local hospital.
We fundraise through various means but our
major event is an annual corporate regatta
where up to 17 crews from local businesses
and government agencies compete. We also
hold ‘pink cabarets’ where the girls perform
singing our own words to popular melodies.
To celebrate our 10 th birthday we held a
“Revue” which described our history in words
and song.
As a team we have had several adventures
including travelling to Vancouver in 2005 (8 of
our paddlers), Caloundra 2007 and
Peterborough in 2010. We fielded a full team
at the latter 2 events.
Perhaps the highlight was paddling the River
Ord in far north east Western Australia, a
55kms paddle in one day.
While our 8 members were in Vancouver
celebrating the 10 th anniversary of ABIAB in
2005, those of us at home celebrated the
occasion with a Canadian breakfast of
pancakes, French toast, bacon and maple
syrup washed down with moose milk.
And so we celebrated 20 years Abreast in a
Boat in the same manner – paddling on the
Derwent followed by a Canadian breakfast.
The water was calm although there was frost
on our ways with the temperature only
1degree Celsius. But our hearts were warmed
by the food and moose milk which followed.
Dragons Abreast Salute
The DATH gang
Toni, Fay, Marilyn, Sue J, Leigh
toast AIAB with moose milk.

20 th Birthday
Party
Our Motto is ‘Friendship, Fitness & Fun’

Rainbow Dragon Abreast was established in 2005.
We paddle at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head NSW Australia.
Our 28 members, ranging in age from 49 to 74, come from the
beautiful Far North Coast of NSW including the Ballina, Byron and
Lismore shires, this area is also known as the Rainbow Region. You
can contact us by email: byronbay@dragonsabreast.com.au or visit
our website: http://www.rainbowdragons.com.au/?page_id=1364
The club’s key founder, Barb Pinter was inspired to form a local dragon boat team following paddling
sessions with DA Brisbane, though it was after meeting Professor Don McKenzie and Michelle
Hanton (then National Coordinator of Dragons Abreast Australia) at the BCNA conference in 2003
that the dragon spirit really ignited. Following discussions with the Lismore Encore program a local
Dragons Abreast group was formed. A dragon boat was leased from DBNSW 2005, until then they
participated in group swim sessions to develop the fitness required for their paddling. Finally, on 18 th
July 2006, they received their own boat, thanks to the support of the local Lions Clubs and the
Northern NSW Lions Community Trust. Despite its enthusiastic membership there was a lot of interest
from the general public in dragon boating and in 2009 the Rainbow Dragons decided to become a
sports club whereby Rainbow Dragons Abreast continued as a group within the club.
Rainbow Dragons Abreast is affiliated with Breast Cancer Network Australia, Cancer Council NSW,
local breast cancer support groups, Encore program and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Our club has received tremendous community support, in particularly from the Lennox Head Lions
Club, Alstonville-Wollongbar Quota Club and organisers of the Byron Bay Ocean Swim Classic.
Highlights include IBCPC Festival Caloundra 2007
and Sarasota 2015, Dragons Abreast Australia
(DAA) in Caloundra 2011, annual Chinese New Year
regattas in Sydney featuring DAA events and
PacPacs Masters Games Gold Coast.
We celebrated 20 years of breast cancer survivor paddling with a ‘Come and Try’ day, followed by a
BBQ attended by 40 paddlers with lots of pink, fun and laughter, though our most fortunate member
was Annola, who paddled in Vancouver with ‘Abreast in a Boat’ with Professor Don McKenzie
sweeping her boat.

Dragons Abreast Melbourne
DAM Busters
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Abreast in a Boat we held a special paddle
session at Docklands followed by morning tea and a dragon birthday cake.
Dragons Abreast Melbourne—DAM Busters
Victoria Harbour, Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Email: dragonsabreastmelb@yahoo.com.au
www.dragonsabreast.com.au/melbourne www.facebook.com/damelbdambusters

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
The Peninsula Dragonflys are based on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia and
were established in 2006.
Our foundation members belonged to a club that was based in Melbourne but soon found that there was
enough interest from people located down on the Peninsula to form our own club. We have since grown from
one 20 seat boat to now two 20s and a 10 boat. Currently we have 58 members ranging in age from early 20’s
to late 70’s.
Our membership is made up of both survivors and supporters and we train every Saturday morning plus
Tuesday evenings during the summer months.
Our members have competed in events not only locally but in interstate and international events as well with
the most recent major international event in Florida.
Early in 2010 our President, Patsy Blair, advised us that we would be part of a television documentary.
Reporters attended various training sessions and we showed them all the fun and support that Dragon boating
offers. What a surprise was in store for us when the reporter announced to a small group of paddlers that we
were going to be on Secret Millionaire, a secret we had to keep for several months until the show was
screened on TV in August.
It was special to share this with all our dragon boating friends at the 2010 DAA Convention in Hobart. This was
a great way to promote Dragons Abreast to the Australian community. Carly, the secret millionaire, purchased
our 10 seat boat and provided financial support for one of our members to attend the IBCPC Regatta in
Canada.
We combined our celebration of the 20 th anniversary of Abreast in a Boat with our annual “Boob” day, which is
where we discuss topics related to breast health.
This was also an opportunity to pink it up!!
We can be contacted via our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragons-Abreast-Peninsula-
Dragonflys/325922147491350?fref=nf&pnref=story, or via our website
http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/peninsula/

NEWCASTLE HUNTER DRAGONS ABREAST paddle as the PINK DRAGON HUNTERS.
Newcastle is a Port city of 1/2 million people on the Eastern Coast of Australia in the state of New South Wales.
We are 2 hours North of Sydney.
OUR GROUP
Today we have 35 members aged from 48 to 74. We are affiliated with the sporty team Newcastle Dragon Hunters and share their
boats. We paddle on the Hunter River and Newcastle Harbour, which is the worlds biggest Coal Exporter. So we have to keep a good
look out for large Coal Carriers, tug boats and ferries.
We are a member of Dragons Abreast Australia.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Newcastledragonsabreast@yahoo.com.au
OUR STORY
Our team started in 2000 with two women Melba Mensch and Martine Hammond. Five women travelled to Darwin in 2001 for the first
National regatta. We train every Sunday morning as a Breast Cancer group and can train more often with the sporty club teams. When
we enter regattas that require 100% survivors we rely on other teams to help us form a composite boat, otherwise we rely on our
wonderful supporters. This year we joined with the Canberra DA girls to race in the 'The Flowing Festival' in Jindabyne. In 2014 we
came first in the DAA National regatta.
PAST and PRESENT SPONSORS
BCNA, Newcastle Permanent Building Society, Stroud Zonta Club, Koppers Australia, 'You Really are Beautiful', Cancer Council, and
Bakers Delight,
BEST MEMORY
When our whole team went to the 2nd International Breast Cancer regatta in Caloundra, Australia in 2007. We had so much fun and
made many new friends. A great experience shared by the whole team and their supporters. Regattas are always a highlight whether
local, National or International, as our team members like the challenge of competing, and the travel and social aspects that come with
going to regattas. Members have participated in all the International Breast Cancer Regattas in Vancouver, Peterborough and
Sarasota as well as joining the Florence team for the Annual Vogalonga marathon in Venice.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE June 7th 2015
Paddling the Ord River 55km marathon in The Kimberley region of Western Australia in metal boats (crocodiles), to celebrate 20 years
of 'Abreast in a Boat'. It started at the bottom of the Argyle dam, where a lot of water was being released, giving rise to fast moving
water and rapids. We left the shore at 7am and finished at 4pm with 3 short stops. Even though it was winter, it was very hot in the
Australian outback,. At the end we were a very tired group but ecstatic that we had finished this challenge.
Our capable steer persons were Selma Barry and Caroline Ahearn.
Photo by Mike Barry
.

Pinnacle Dragons Abreast-Orange Inc
PO Box 5133
Orange NSW 2800
e: orange@dragonsabreast.org.au
20 th Anniversary
Mid-winter is not really paddling weather for those of us living in the Central West of NSW, especially when our
training venue is located at the foot of Mount Canobolas – said by some to be the highest point between east
coast of Australia and Africa, however members of Dragons Abreast Orange and their friends in Pinnacle
Dragons weren’t about to be left out of this very special anniversary.
Weather was kind to us for a very pleasant paddle, followed by afternoon tea at the Lakehouse giving us the
opportunity to reflect on just how much dragon boating has made a difference to our lives. The fact that other
patrons of the Lakehouse were curious to know just why a bunch of women (with 3 men) would venture out on
the water in mid-winter gave us the chance to tell of the benefits of dragon boating for all.
Pearl
Coordinator
DA Orange
Orange@dragonsabreast.org.au ph: 0400 640 342 facebook.com/pinnacledragonsabreast

Dragons Abreast Penrith, also known by our racing name ‘Pendragons Abreast’. We were established in
2004 with Dragons Abreast Australia, our home is the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith
NSW, Australia .Currently we have 13 survivor members and 8 supporters. The age of our survivors
ranges from 45 – 69.
penrith@dragonsabreast.com.au
Stemming from a local breast cancer support group in 2004 who were looking to try something new to
aid in their recovery from treatment, we found a local dragon boat team, Pendragons Sports Club, who
welcomed us into their boat. We are lucky enough to have the unique experience of being the only
Dragons Abreast Australian team to have an Olympic race venue as their training ground, thanks to the
Sydney Olympics held in 2000.
Our numbers steadily grew and our first major event was Abreast in Australia (IBCPC) at Kawana, Qld in
2007. A moving experience for everyone involved.
As a team we completed the 55km Ord River, Kununurra marathon in2010 in the Kimberly Ranges in
Western Australia, spotting crocodiles along the way!
Some of our survivors competed in Hong Kong in 2011 as a combined team and won gold in the 500m
Breast Cancer Survivor race. Two of our ladies, Jan Caldwell and Gillian Brown, represented Australia in
the IBCPC boat ‘Internationally Abreast’ on the Thames for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant.
Most recently we combined with DA Sydney to paddle at Sarasota, Florida in 2014. Another trip of a life
time.
We were involved in several
celebrations for the 20 year
anniversary of Abreast in a
Boat. First was a celebration
dinner and team paddle at the
Sydney International Regatta
Centre in Penrith. Then again at
Black Wattle Bay in Sydney for
a morning paddle with DA
Sydney and Pittwater Pinks. We
followed this with a lovely
lunch and toasted the IBCPC
and Dr Don McKenzie for his
vision and commitment 20
years ago.

PITTERWATER PINKS
Bayview, Pittwater, Sydney NSW
Team members: 27. Aged from 40 – 78
www.beiloon.com.au/pittwater-pinks
The Pittwater Pinks team was formed in 2004, to join the Bei Loon Dragon Boat
Club. This was initiated by a founding member of Bei Loon with the help of Fran
Hardy, our first Pink.
It was advertised in the Manly Daily that a team was forming and soon we had
enough girls to be under way. In those days we were treated with a great deal of
fragility and used to paddle for a very short time before we rested, you could hear our
chatter and laughter all over Pittwater. The paddling bug bit and soon we became
serious by training for our first IBCPC Festival, which was hosted in Queensland.
When we did the first erg test everyone was surprised that the strongest paddler in the
club was a Pink.
Over the last 11 years we have seen over 60 ladies all breast cancer survivors paddle
with the Pinks. We have had sad times too losing May, Anne, Jo and Glenys to their
illness. Others have retired due to commitments, aches and pains and others to
achieve great feats, paddling for the State and winning medals for Australia in
International events.
Moira Payne is the only girl paddling with us today from the founding team. The next
year Franna, Sue and Robyn and by 2006/2007 Barley, Fran, Grace, Jenny and Pam
were all members. Since then we have welcomed many more due to promotional
advertising, newspaper articles and talking about our love of paddling.
We have had incredibly wonderful times at outings, annual weekends away and
travelling together to compete in Canada in 2010 and Sarasota in 2014. Over the years
so many lifetime friendships have been formed. We are a huge support to each other
and besides from keeping fit, healthy and alive we have lots of fun.
Our club’s history is cherished by us all and we continue to grow and develop. The
things that are constant are the enduring friendships and the beginning of new ones
and it goes without saying our love of paddling.
From our hearts “The Pinks” xx

Who:DragonsAbreastPortLincoln
Where:PortLincoln,EyrePeninsulaSouthAustralia
When:2004
Members:22Survivors,37Supporters.Ages:4579
Findus:www.dragonsabreast.com.au,
portlincoln@dragonsabreast.com.au
Logo:StateofSouthAustralia,toshowwhereweare,
andLeafySeaDragon,marineemblemofSouthAustralia.
Boatshed2010
Maxine’sDreaminthebay
Thekla’sGiftinthemarina
OURSTORY
Fromadream,2survivorsand2supporters,noboat,nosweepandnoequipment,wehaveevolvedin10yearstoagroupof22
survivors,37supporters,2boats,ourownboatshedbuiltandpaidfor,andtheongoingandgeneroussupportofour12,000strong
ruralfarmingandfishingcommunity.Weareverythankfultooursponsorfromthebeginning,herselfasurvivor,AmandaProudeof
AmandaProudeRealEstate,andasuccessionofotherloyalsponsorsfromlocalbusiness.Oursupportersareveryvaluabletoourteam
andwewelcomebothsurvivorsandsupportersinthecommunitytobecomemembers.
Distanceisourchallenge,weare650kmfromournearestsistergroupinAdelaide,and2000kmfromtheeast
coastwherethemajorityofDAAgroupspaddle,butthisdoesnotstopourmemberspaddlingwithinthestate,
interstateandinternationally.
WeareproudsupportersofBreastCancerNetworkAustralia,ourlocalMcGrathBreastCarenurseandofIBCPC.
OurpassionforpaddlingismatchedonlybyourloveandenjoymentoflifeinourbeautifulpartofAustralia.()
OURCELEBRATION
Tocelebrate20yearsof“AbreastinaBoat”,weputourtwoboats,Maxine’sDreamandThekla’sGiftonthewaterinourcommercial
marinaonacool,calm,rainywinterday.Wedodgedthetrafficafishingboat,thepilotboatandseveralrecreationalcruisers,and
paddledaspecialroutinechoreographedbyoursweeps,withdolphinsandourresidentsealasjustafewoftheinterestedspectators.
Withboatstidiedaway,wemovedouttoourboatshedforaPinkBirthday
Partycompletewithpartyhats,decorations,games,andBirthdaycake.We
remembered1996,celebratedourmemberswhowenttoVancouverin2006,
andraisedatoasttocelebrate“AbreastinaBoat”and20amazingyears!
Atoastto“AbreastinaBoat”
PinkBirthdayParty
Ourchefs
DAPLreadytogopaddling,14June2015

AUSSIE DRAGONFLIES
(FLAMIN' DRAGONS PORT MACQUARIE and friends)
The Aussie Dragonflies are from the Mid North coast of New South Wales,
Australia, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on a coastline renowned for
its beautiful beaches and wonderful large rivers which flow from the Great
Dividing Range to the Pacific Ocean.
The Flamin' Dragons Port Macquarie Dragon Boating Club was formed in 2004
and is now a sporting club. Breast Cancer survivors who belong to the Club paddle as the Aussie
Dragonflies with other survivors from nearby Clubs including Camden Haven Dragons, Coffs Coast DBC
(Coffs Harbour) and all the way north to the Rainbow Region Dragons (at Ballina, 400kms away, almost to
the Queensland border). The Aussie Dragonflies first paddled under that name in Peterborough, Canada in
2010, although members had also already attended Singapore in 2006 and Caloundra, Australia in 2007.
The Flamin' Dragons Port Macquarie Club has a membership of 85 members [2014-15] ageing from 15 to
80 years with 18 survivors, whilst the Aussie Dragonflies Team ages range from 55 to 76 years. All of these
Clubs would love to have you visit and paddle with us!
Contact information:
Email: flamindragons@y7mail.com
Website: www.flamindragonsportmacquarie.org.au
Our clubs support BCNA (Breast Cancer Network Australia) nationally, whose logo is the pink lady, and in
our local community, the Hastings Cancer Trust which raises money for local projects
Our major sponsor for Sarasota was Robert Oately Wines who generously paid for our race tops.
The Aussie Dragonflies have attended both the Peterborough and Sarasota events and for us they are a
huge undertaking with the “Land Downunder” being so far away. The challenge for us is to find enough
people from our area (400kms between our northern and southernmost teams) who can afford to travel
overseas. For Sarasota, we were able to do quite a bit of fundraising and gained sponsorship to help with
costs.
Abreast Around the World: On June 13 th , the Aussie Dragonflies held a Pink Paddle Event at Laurieton,
on the beautiful Camden Haven River. There were 31 attendees, including both survivors and supporters,
in two boats which were decorated with multiple pink balloons, and all paddlers were resplendent in their
pink attire. We had a paddle salute and sang songs, followed by a special luncheon at the Lorne
Macadamia Farm where 24 ladies dressed in "Op Shop" pink ate a wonderful two course lunch, drank pink
champagne and had a wonderful time. The room had been decorated with pink streamers, balloons and the
pink lady silhouettes which are from the Breast Cancer Network. We celebrated how dragon boating has
changed our lives, giving us the chance to be fit and healthy, travel Australia and the world, and most of all,
meeting a large number of wonderful, courageous people.

Dragons Abreast Sydney
Our logo shows our affinity to the Sydney Opera House, part of our wonderful city.
Dragons Abreast Sydney was formed in 2003, when the fledgling club was asked
to form a team to take part in a Dragons Abreast Challenge at Chinese New Year
Celebrations in Sydney.
Since then the club has grown and now has more than 75 members, ranging in
age from 37 to 73, who participate at many levels for exercise, competition and
camaraderie.
The club has participated in many thrilling regattas – including National
Championships in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and
Sydney. We have also competed in International events in Hong Kong, Penang,
Shanghai, and Ravenna, and many of our members have travelled to attend IBCPC
events in Canada and Florida. Dragons Abreast Sydney members have also been chosen to represent Australia in the
national team at every World Championship since 2004. Some of our more adventurous paddlers have also taken part
in the fantastic Vogalonga in Italy and the Yukon Challenge in Alaska.
Dragons Abreast Sydney is committed to communicating the message that there is a life beyond diagnosis and
treatment. Members regularly visit hospitals and other breast cancer organisations to speak with pre and post
treatment women (and men, too) about Dragons Abreast, who we are and what we do. We have also introduced the
“Hospital challenge” at our National regatta, where staff represent their Hospital in racing, and become more aware of
the benefits of the sport for breast cancer survivors.
Our 20 Years of Abreast in a Boat celebration included a huge gathering of our past and present paddlers and guests,
dressed to the hilt in pink of various shades and designs, plus members of the Pendragons – another club from the
western area of Sydney. A flotilla of 4 boats took to the water on a most beautiful morning and enjoyed fun races,
lots of laughter and a moment of reflection, followed by lunch – a beautiful morning on the waters of Blackwattle Bay,
Sydney, Australia.
Follow us on Facebook or contact us on our email – sydney@dragonsabreast.com.au

Bidgee Dragons Abreast Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga NSW Australia
Established 2007
30 current members and growing
bidgee.dragonswagga@gmail.com
www.bidgeedragonswagga.com
Wagga Wagga is located in the Riverina Region in southern New South Wales,
Australia. It is an inland city, halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. The club
name “Bidgee” is derived from the city’s location along the Murrumbidgee River.
The Wagga Wagga Breast Cancer Group initiated the idea of introducing dragon
boat paddling for breast cancer survivors and supporters, leading to Bidgee
Dragons Abreast Wagga Wagga officially forming in 2007. Inaugural members
learned paddling technique with a piece of string on the side of the local
swimming pool and graduated to a pink second hand dragon boat and wooden
cast off paddles. The challenge was introducing dragon boat paddling to the
community, which had not heard of the sport, and learning on the way.
Bidgee Dragons is open to men and women in the belief that supporter paddlers
are important in getting cancer survivors on the water. The club participates in
breast cancer, sports and community events, nationally and internationally. The
first regatta is memorable for every participant, getting the appetite for more.
Highlights for different members have been paddling the 55km Ord River
Marathon, being team members of Dragons Abreast Australia Inspiration at
IBCPC festivals, paddling in Hong Kong harbor and now preparing for the 42 km
Four Bridges Marathon Race in Hobart, and Wellington regatta in New Zealand.
The celebration of twenty years of breast cancer paddling has seen an increase
in survivor and supporter members, and the hosting of the 3 rd Wagga Wagga
Dragon Boat Regatta in November.

Vienna Pink Dragons
This new team was established in spring 2015 by Svenja Franke-Bruhn (BCS)
and Nina Kerres (Supporter VPD), following Svenja’s move from Sydney where
she used to paddle with DAS. Currently there are two BCS members (50 + 56)
and numerous supporters. Several newbies are already interested; they are now
organizing monthly newbie sessions and continue to advertise and spread the
word in Vienna. Until they can fill a whole boat, the BCS are training 3 x a week
with the Vienna Dragons.
Contact: info@pinkpaddling.at
Website: www.pinkpaddling.at
Facebook: Vienna Pink Dragons
Vienna Pink Dragons (left to right):
Svenja Franke-Bruhn,
Andrea Mattes & Nina Kerres
Svenja went to Empoli, Italy to join the celebrations organized by the Astro
Dragon Ladies wearing her teamshirt from Sarasota as the VPD shirts were not
yet ready at the time.
Franca Criseo and Svenja Franke-Bruhn, Empoli 13.6.2015
The visit was a wonderful experience, a great way to connect with the Italian
teams and to gather many useful tips in regards to establishing the new team.

Prior Chest Nuts
Arnprior, Ontario, Canada
Our dragon boat journey began in the summer of 2009, when planning began to establish a team in our
local area. In early 2010 we were granted startup money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to cover
boat, boat cover, trailer, PFDs, and paddles. We then found a home for our boat at White Lake Marina
which donated docking and land space; we now call the Marina “Our Home”. The Chest Nuts hit the
water in May of 2010. We are proud to say that the Prior Chest Nuts is the first dragon boat team for
breast cancer survivors in the Ottawa Valley and includes paddlers from Almonte, White Lake, Renfrew,
Arnprior, and Pakenham area. We generally participate in 2 or 3 dragon boat festivals each year and
race against our best time to the best of our ability...and always finish ''first in our lane''. During our
offseason we get together to do a bit of pool paddling and exercise.
The boat trailer allows the Prior Chest Nuts to travel with our boat throughout the local area,
participating in farmer’s markets, or local town festivals such as Arnprior’s White Pine Festival. We have
participated in many local community events including the walk for Hospice in Renfrew, The Terry Fox
Run/Walk and Cycle Event, White Pine Festival, White Lake Open House, and Campanale Homes BBQ,
and the Santa Claus Parade. The participation includes some fundraising as well as awareness that there
is life after all the treatments. A number of Team Members are also active in the Arnprior & District
Breast Cancer Support Group. It is amazing the number of people you meet who have been affected one
way or another by breast cancer, either themselves, a relative, friend or coworker….and it is so inspiring
to see the advances that are made in treatment.
As breast cancer survivors we each live our lives knowing that at any time we may have a recurrence. It
was an awesome experience being able to participate in the International Breast Cancer Participatory
Festival that took place in Sarasota in October 2014 and we look forward to Florence, Italy in 2018.
To celebrate 20 years of breast cancer paddling we enjoyed a gorgeous morning ....coffee and muffins to
the music of “Take it Away”, we then took to the water, our boat decked out with our head and tail, and
us wearing our Sarasota T-Shirts. We enjoyed being very vocal ...singing...chanting..cheering .....during
our celebratory paddle... usually our coaches try and have us quiet and focused during
practice...sometimes they even succeed! When we got hot, what better way to cool off then with water
guns, given that we were out in the middle of the lake....we were laughing so hard we were lucky we did
not all end up in the water! The Prior Chest Nuts capped off the day with a nice relaxing Team lunch.
Email: priorchestnuts@hotmail.com
Facebook: Prior Chestnuts
Website: www.priorchestnuts.com

It all started in 2003 when
our founding member Sue
Mccallum read a
newspaper article about a
team of women all breast
cancer survivors
competing in a Vancouver
Dragon Boat Festival. With her
interest piqued she decided to
create her own dragon boat team
comprised of breast cancer survivors,
the first for Barrie, ON Canada. She
received a tremendous response and
throughout the years the team has
only continued to grow. The strength
of the team lives within its
membership a group of 38 women
ranging in age from 43-83.
With our team’s continual growth and
development the Ribbons became a
registered charity in 2005 and donate
all pledges raised from our
participation in the Barrie Dragon
Boat Festival to the Simcoe
Muskoka Regional
Cancer Centre and most
recently the Kelly Shires
Breast Cancer
Foundation. Since our
inception we have raised
over $140,000.00 for the
Cancer Centre and over
$6,600.00 for Kelly Shires.
Promoting breast cancer awareness
by becoming more visible and active
in our community is an ongoing
objective of the team. The Ribbon’s
true goal is to celebrate and embrace
life and have FUN in the process.
Barrie’s Ribbons of Hope
has had so many
opportunities to travel,
compete and celebrate
life with other breast
cancer survivors. We
have participated in all
of the International
IBCPC festivals; and are
now looking forward to
our next one in Italy in 2018. Probably
the most memorable and challenging
was ten years ago in 2005 when
“Abreast in a Boat”
celebrated their
10th Anniversary.
As a Team, the
Ribbons had very
little time on the
water before
taking on this
challenge…we
had only about 3
festivals and half a dozen practices
under our belt and we decided yes,
we could do this; we could travel to
Vancouver to join in the competition
and festivities and we did. Only
seventeen team members (at least
one had never been in a dragon
boat) were able to commit to this
adventure, and so we were
joined by 3 other ladies from
Cobourg, Montreal and Northern
BC. Paddling on False Creek
was amazing and we even
won one race in our division.
The flower ceremony was the
first any of us had experience
at this level; the “Memory
Moment” and its
history still brings
a tear. However,
the spectacular
memory was the
gathering of over
1500 women from
all over the world
with the shared
experience of the
disease and now here to share their
love for this new found sport and
celebrate life with Dr. Don McKenzie
and the team who started it all. This
was an inspiring experience for all,
listening to the man who started the
activity which in 20 years has spread
worldwide.
To celebrate 20 years of breast cancer
survivor paddling the Ribbon’s
gathered at the boat on June 13, 2015
for an early morning paddle on
beautiful Kempenfelt Bay and held a
special memory moment tossing pink
carnations in the water remembering
those no longer with us and
honouring those who continue to
fight the disease.
barriesribbonsofhope.com .:. barriesribbonsofhope@gmail.com .:. facebook.com/BarriesRibbonsOfHope

Cobourg, Ontario
Survivor Thrivers
Est. 1999
In the fall of 1998, Dorothy Hampson, a retired teacher and a breast cancer survivor in Cobourg, Ontario
contacted local breast cancer survivors that she knew, who in turn contacted others and together they formed
the Survivor Thrivers in 1999 as a non-profit, charitable organization.
With strong community support from individuals, service groups and businesses, we raised enough money to
commission our own boat, to be built in Millbrook, Ontario.
Breast cancer survivors came from communities along Lake Ontario and to the north, learning to paddleside by
side, while developing the special bond that came from sharing a life-threatening experience.
On June 13th founding and current members of the Survivor Thrivers gathered at the Cobourg Harbour to
celebrate the 20th anniversary of ‘Abreast In A Boat’.Now in our 17 th season we continue to share our ‘support
group on water’ and welcome new members to experience the unique joy that comes with belonging to a
dragon boat paddling team as we continue to prove there is Life After Breast Cancer!
Our first boat arrives in Cobourg!
E-Mail survivorthrivers@outlook.comWebsite: www.survivorthrivers.com
Primary Contact Juliet Fullerton, President; Phone: (Residence) 905-885-1405
Alternate Contact Siobhan Kenny, Past President; Phone: (Residence) 416-817-4600
Mailing Address c/o Juliet Fullerton 75A Elgin St W, Ste 134 Cobourg, ON K9A 5J3

Hope Afloat Canada, Comox Valley, British Columbia, Canada
www.hopeafloatcanada.ca
Established: 2002
Current Members: 35
Ages: mid-40’s to mid 70’s
Alumnae 2002-2015: 95
Contact: Glenda Wilson (President)
glendawilson@shaw.ca
Our Story: In 2001, a small group of women met to start up a dragon boat team - some who
already paddled with Abreast of Life from Central Vancouver Island. By January of 2002, a
larger group of women from mid-Vancouver Island to Campbell River gathered to form the
first team in the valley, Hope Afloat Canada. In less than five months, with the support of
our amazing community, we fundraised enough to buy a 6-16 dragon boat, team uniforms,
life jackets and paddles. In May 2002, the newly formed Comox Valley Dragon Boat Society
deeded the dragon boat to the community: a gift to the Comox Valley Recreation
Commission who agreed to rent the boat to groups and individuals of all ages who wanted to
learn the sport of dragon boating. Over the years, six other community dragon boat teams
have formed in the valley. Some of our first teammates also went on to form River Spirit and
then Bravehearts in Campbell River. Since 2011, women who have been diagnosed with any
type of cancer have been welcome to join the team, as well as a few enthusiastic associates.
Our biggest challenge is recruiting (and keeping) enough active members to attend practices
and festivals throughout the season; whilst juggling commitments to personal fitness, family,
friends, work and other activities in our daily lives.
Special Sponsors:
-RH Ash & Associates
-Town of Comox
-Quality Foods
Affiliations with Cancer Organizations:
-Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
-BC Cancer Society - local support of
events such as Daffodil Month, Relay
for Life and the Terry Fox Run
Other Special Activities: awarding
two bursaries for local high school
students, holding an annual Tag Day to
raise funds for cancer care/treatment
Most Memorable Adventures- we’ve had a few!
Many memories with Hope Afloat are special- from the
time the boat arrived in 2002 to our first races. The fun
bus trips- being stopped at the US border on the way to
a Seattle festival, all in disguises for a murder mystery.
Line dancing on the ferry, while travelling to Vancouver
for the AIAB 10 th . What a fantastic weekend! The most
memorable adventure though- paddling one windy
evening into a small pod of playful orcas in our very
own Comox harbour ...the most AMAZING paddle ever!!
Cheers to Abreast in a Boat and the 20 th Celebration!
We were pleased to host a gathering in the Comox Valley with many of our
original paddlers, as well as guests from Prevailing Wins, Abreast of Life,
River Spirit and Bravehearts. A ceremony was held on the dock for friends
and families to honour our fifteen guardian angels and all the women who
have paddled with Hope Afloat; with a special blessing of the boat, song
and dance by Hereditary Chief Wedlidi Speck. A scenic paddle in the
harbour took us to the public walkway for a Carnation Ceremony on the
water. Wonderful memories were shared later at a Social - with a toast to
AIAB and twenty years of breast cancer dragon boat paddling!
..and then there was the wedding paddle, June 14 th , 2015.
May we continue to live, love and laugh! Paddles Up!!

Cowichan Valley Dragon Divas
Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
Est. 2003
The Cowichan Valley Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Society “Dragon Divas” was incorporated in May of 2003. We
moor our boat at the Maritime Centre and paddle in the picturesque waters of Cowichan Bay on Vancouver
Island.
We support the Cowichan Valley Cancer Society, the CBCF Run for the Cure, Ovarian Cancers “Walk of Hope”,
the Terry Fox Run and Tour de Rock.We host a “Pub Night” in October, participate in numerous
localawarenesseventsthroughout the year and partake in dragon boat festivals on Vancouver Island.
Our most memorable adventures were attending the IBCPC festivals in Caloundra, Australia in 2007 and in
Peterborough, Ontario in 2010. Our biggest challenge has been in recruiting breast cancer survivors to join our
team.
On June 13 th of this year
we held a “Pink Picnic in the
Park” in Cowichan Bay to
join with “Abreast In A Boat” and
breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams worldwide to
celebrate 20 years of
dragon boating. Current and
past members of the Dragon Divas attended. In
addition we were joined
by Darlene Knott, a founding
member of “Abreast in A
Boat” and Sally Crowder who has
paddled with”IBS” as well
as special attendee Sarah Briggs
from Tasmania who paddled with “Nipples on
Ripples”.

Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Established-1998
63 current members ranging from 39-73
Breast Friends Society
PO Box 68080
162 Bonnie Doon Mall
Edmonton, AB
T6C 4N6
http://www.breastfriendsedmonton.org/
Breast Friends was formed in 1998 so that Edmonton and area women
could participate in the exciting worldwide movement started by Abreast in
a Boat in Vancouver. Our mission is to encourage breast cancer survivors to
lead full and active lives, to demonstrate the benefits of an active lifestyle
through dragon boating and also to raise awareness and encourage the
pursuit of a cure.
We support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
in many collaborative initiatives such as Run for the
Cure, Batting against Breast Cancer, and are CBCF
ambassadors in our community. We also
volunteer with Compassion House, a non-profit
facility where rural community patients are housed
during treatment in Edmonton. We are grateful
for our major sponsors the City of Edmonton and
the CBCF, and also the several local businesses
who share our vision of “Awareness and Hope in a
Dragon Boat”. Breast Friends participate each year
in several festivals that hold a pink ribbon race and
breast cancer ceremony. We have travelled to all
4 of the International breast cancer festivals and
proudly represent our city, province and country
everywhere we go! To celebrate the 20 years of
Breast Cancer Survivor paddling, Breast Friends
went out for a vigorous paddle on the mighty
North Saskatchewan River, then we celebrated
with a post-practice party on our dock. Party
pants, hats, glasses & boa’s aplenty… we raised our
glasses and toasted Abreast in a Boat’s 20 year
anniversary with a sip of bubbly and a rousing
cheer!
Congratulations to Abreast in a Boat….here’s to 20 more years of
survivor paddling!

Bosom Buddies of Nova Scotia
www.bosombuddies.ca
Our story begins when Vancouver’s Abreast in a Boat Team was formed. Sharon
Driscoll was living in Vancouver and was introduced to this breast cancer survivor
team. With plans to move to Mahone Bay, N.S. in 1997, Sharon had thoughts as to
how a team might be formed in NS. She met co-founder Margo Kleiker that
summer and started working on establishing a dragon boat team in NS with the
help of long distance mentor, Jane Frost, of Abreast In A Boat. Finally the
formation meeting was held on September 26, 1998 in the Oak Island Inn, Western
Shore and the team name chosen was Bosom Buddies of NS. The team attended
its first festival in Vancouver in 1999. We have 66 members age 50-85. We
celebrated our 10 th anniversary by hosting a breast cancer survivor festival on
Lake Banook, Dartmouth for thirty teams and their supporters from across Canada
We are affiliated with CBCF-Atlantic Chapter, Cancer Care Nova Scotia, IWK Breast
Clinic, BCANS, Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.
Our sponsors include Scotiabank, CBCF, and Conrad Bros.
Team contact info: Marylin Hergett at mjh@ns.sympatico.ca, 902-423-2346

Our “Paddle Party” was a Celebration of Living with a Parade of Pink. On a very
rainy June 13 th one dragon boat full of members paddled across Lake Banook,
Dartmouth from the Austenville Owl’s Club dock to join our Buddies who walked to
two pink benches, installed by the city in memory of our members on the other side
of Lake Banook. We wore pink to honour the brave, strong twenty-four woman who
paddled the first dragon boat in Vancouver in 1995, and became known as Abreast
In A Boat. Each team member taking part, wore a name of one of the twenty-four
original women. Following a short ceremony we sang our team song inspired by
one of our co-founders Sharon Driscoll. Our team walked and paddled back to the
Austenville Owl’s Club for cookies and pink lemonade. The weather was terrible
but our spirits were high – we are all winners in this breast cancer race!

KNOT A BREAST was formed in April, 1998 and has not looked back! We began as
strangers with only one link – breast cancer. Today our membership is comprised of
about 80 members of all ages and physical abilities from Hamilton and surrounding area
(Ontario, Canada). We have all grown stronger as individuals and as a team. We believe
it is important to raise public awareness about the quality of life after breast cancer. KAB
accomplishes this through dragon boating. Our floating support group sends a message
of hope to people living with breast cancer and to those who support them.
On June 13, 2015, KNOT A
BREAST members travelled to
Buffalo New York to participate
in a dragon boat festival
sponsored by Buffalo’s breast
cancer team Hope Chest. To
celebrate the 20 years of
paddling, KAB members
distributed bags to Hope Chest
to honor the theme of “giving to
each other”. Stenciled on the
bags were the words:
“TEAM…Together Everyone
Achieves More”
We are grateful for the ongoing support of: Macassa Bay Yacht Club, Dr. David Levy (Dr. Daniel
Levy Memorial Sports Medicine Clinic), Burlington Racquet and Athletic Club Inc., Wellwood
Resource Centre of Hamilton, YWCA (MacNab St), and Tim Hortons (Kenilworth Ave)
KNOT A BREAST
www.knotabreast.com

www.spiritwarriors.ca
Joan Duhaime, President jsmarkuson@hotmail.com
Established 2008 Kamloops BC
28 members ranging in age from
32 to 74
Our Story
Four Kamloops women (Dell, Laima, Ann, Kathy) had been paddling
for two years with a team from Salmon Arm and had competed with
them in Australia Sept 2007. After Australia, these four decided to
form a survivor team in Kamloops under the guidance of the Kamloops
Dragon Boat Club. In April 2008 the Spirit Warriors team was formed
with 22 members paddling on the South Thompson River out of
Pioneer Park. In June 2010, the team competed in the International
Breast Cancer Survivor Festival in Peterborough Ontario and in 2014
attended the Sarasota event. We look forward to Florence Italy in
2018.
We have lost two members: Avril who passed away in 2010 and Greta,
our team’s original steers person who died in October 2014, the same
weekend we competed in Sarasota.
We have maintained a public presence in our community through our
volunteer work, fundraising and awareness activities; paddling on the
river twice a week during the spring and summer. We are a registered
non-prot society and a breast cancer survivor only team.
On June 13, 2015 we celebrated the 20th anniversary by inviting alumni,
friends and family to come and paddle with us. We had our own pink
carnation ceremony and a bbq picnic afterwards.

Bust’N Loose is a breast cancer survivor team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. We were
established in 1998, participated in our first dragon boat festival in 1999 and haven’t stopped since. We
currently have 46 active members participating as competitive or recreational paddlers or in a support
capacity.
Highlights from over the years are too numerous to mention but special memories include:
Participating as a team in International Breast Cancer Survivor Festivals in Vancouver (2005),
Peterborough (2010) and Sarasota (2014)
Travelling to Germany in 2005 to participate in dragon boat festivals and meeting with several
breast cancer survivor groups to spread the word about dragon boating for breast cancer survivors
Acquiring our own dragon boat in 2007. Our benefactor was Mrs. Muriel Needham whose wish was
to provide the Kelowna breast cancer team with a dragon boat. Her children Donna and Jack carried
out her wishes and we became the proud owners of our boat, which we christened "Muriel's Spirit"
Bust’N Loose is looking forward to many more adventures in the future, including participation in the
next international festival in Florence, Italy in 2018. Paddles up!
June 13, 2015 - Pink Party at Original Joe’s.Bust'N Loose celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first
breast cancer survivors to dragon boat in Vancouver, B.C. in 1996

Dragon Tamers
Kenora, ON Canada
Established 2002
kenoradragontamers@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/kenoradragontamers
I was recovering from my mastectomy when I chanced on a radio interview about exercise and dragon
boating and a book entitled How to Ride a Dragon. With the help of Darlene in Peterborough and team
Chemo Savvy from Winnipeg, I was on my way. I was able to make contact with 10 breast cancer survivors
who were interested in trying this new way of exercising. At our first meeting, we were fortunate to have
Gail Konantz, a member of the original Abreast In A Boat team, explain what dragon boating was about. She
brought her paddle and a whole bunch of knowledge. The Dragon Tamers were born.
Seven team members went to the first International Breast Cancer Survivor Festival in Vancouver. The
Dragon Tamers have gone to the Australia, Peterborough and Sarasota Festivals. Today, we have
approximately 30 members. Not all are breast cancer survivors, but without our supporters we would be
unable to continue.
We have worked to raise money for our hospital, Tamarack House in Thunder Bay and Women’s Shelter
Saakaate House. Our many sponsors include the Moffat Foundation, The Kenora and Lake of the Woods
Regional Community Foundation, K Sports Marine, Kenora Municipal Telephone Service and Copperfin
Credit Union.
The Dragon Tamers celebrated 20 years of breast cancer survivors’ dragon boating along with our annual
fund raising BBQ. We displayed our paddles and parade dragon, dressed in feathers and our fancy Sarasota
hats and shared a large cake with the community. We were honoured to have Gail Konantz join our
celebration.
Donna P. Tremblay
Thank you, Abreast in a Boat, for
starting this great activity for breast
cancer survivors of the world!
Donna Tremblay & Gail Konantz

Kingston, Ontario, Canada
In 2002 a diverse group of eager breast cancer survivors came together to form one of the
first breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams in Canada – Chestmates. The women were
all intrigued by the hope of finding a way out of the shock and loneliness of a breast cancer
diagnosis by paddling together on our Cataraqui River. We even had to pass a picture
around to show everyone what a dragon boat looked like! Since then, Chestmates has
grown into a family of over 30 active paddlers (ranging in age from 37 to 75) as well as a
large group of former paddlers who still fulfil important roles for the team and for our local
volunteer-run umbrella organization, Breast Cancer
Action Kingston.
Founding members recall the team’s first local dragon
boat festival with embarrassed smiles, remembering
our first less-than-stellar paddle towards the finish line
which included several unintentional loops along the
race course and clocked in at over six minutes! Even
so, we had paddled our hearts out, came in “first in our
lane”, and reached our goal of awareness by definitely
attracting the attention of those on shore!
Since that day, we have enjoyed the rewards of camaraderie and invigorating exercise and,
as symbols of hope, have experienced the thrill of
riding the dragon on waterways both locally and
internationally – always in a straight line! One
particular achievement of which we are proud is
the creation of the celebratory song “Take It Away”
(written by one of our now-lost members) which is
now played at many Flower Ceremonies around
the world.
On June 13, 2015 Chestmates celebrated the 20 th Anniversary of our breast cancer dragon
boat movement in Peterborough Ontario where we and several other teams joined Survivors
Abreast to commemorate both the 20 th Anniversary of bcs dragon boating and the 15 th
Anniversary of the host team whose founders helped Chestmates get off the ground and
onto the water they love.
www.bcakingston.org/chestmates

20 Year Celebration – Abreast In A Boat
Kootenay Rhythm Dragons acknowledge the 20 Year Abreast In a Boat with a special Breakfast on
the Beach Celebration, Saturday June 13, 2015, in Nelson BC.
KRD began in 2004 with a dedicated group of breast cancer survivors, established a non-profit
society. In 2005 the team expanded to include breast cancer survivors, supporters and friends.
Today the Club boasts 85 members ranging in age for 31 to 86. KRD has 2 competitive teams and
one recreational team that paddles on Saturday morning. KRD is supported by the Canadian Breast
Cancer Foundation participates in many breast cancer awareness events in our community. KRD has
taken over the organization of the Terry Fox Run in Nelson.
Abreast In A Boat was the model used to set up the Club and in honor of their 20 Anniversary,
Kootenay Rhythym Dragons held an early morning paddle on Kootenay Lake, a carnation ceremony,
and beautiful Breakfast on the Beach.
www.kootenayrhythmdragons.ca
Mary Walters, Community Liaison, mbwalters@telus.net

TEAM NAME: Breast Buddies
Dragon Boat Racing Team
LOCATION: Lambton and Kent Counes, Ontario
ESTABLISHED: 2000
MEMBERS: 40 Paddlers and Shore Buddies
AGE RANGE: 30-82
CONTACT INFO:
hp://thebreastbuddies.com/
The essence of the Breast Buddies Dragon
Boat Team is reected in our moo,
“Paddle through It” This very meaningful
moo began as a phrase that our helmsman
shouted from the back of the boat whenever
some diculty was encountered – the wake
of a passing motor boat, or the exhauson
felt near the end of a race. The Breast Buddies
Dragon boat team started in 2000 when
Don Verhaege introduced this fast growing
water sport to the local breast cancer support
group. Since that inial season, Breast Buddies
connues to grow and now has paddlers
from all walks of life and all ages from all over
Kent and Lambton counes, here in southern
Ontario. We pracce
twice a week and aim to
parcipate in four fesvals
a year. We are a
oang support group.
hps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y_p0nHIKRQ&feature=youtu.be/
The Breast Buddies
Petrolia Playhouse
What a Wonderful
World
Starring Ben Vereen

Happy 20 th
Abreast In A Boat!
June 13, 2015
From Two Abreast,
Montreal
Congratulations on
20 years Abreast!
And thanks for the
inspiration!
Remembering our
first race with
Abreast In A Boat
and
Toronto’s Dragon’s
Abreast
on June 20 & 21, 1998!
P.S.
Our French name
Côte-à-côte means
side by side
Two Abreast/Côte-à-côte, Montreal
OUR STORY
Two Abreast was established in December 1997, when there were still no dragon
boats permanently situated in Montreal. We started with cross-country skiing in the
winter, and power-walking up hilly Westmount. It was the year of the ice storm in
Montreal, so that was our first big challenge. Our coach and his father whittled 20
paddles out of wood and in February we started paddling in the swimming pool until
April 14 th , when we took to the icy waters of Lac St. Louis in a Rabaska Canoe that fit
10 people. The team was divided in two with 10 paddling from 6 to 7pm and the
other 10 paddling from 7 to 8pm. The first time the team paddled together and
actually got in to a dragon boat was in our first race at the Toronto festival! We raced
with Abreast In A Boat and Dragon’s Abreast of Toronto. It was the first time Abreast
In A Boat had raced with other BCS teams. You won, of course!
We now have our own dragon-boat club (22dragons), founded by our original coach,
Matthew Smith, and his colleague Matthew Roberts. We paddle on the Lachine
Canal in season and in an inside paddling tank in the winter. We also do circuit
training at the club in the winter.
We enjoy the consistent support of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF)
since our inception.
Our special activities include being the featured speakers at a QBCF awareness
breakfast, paddling with Philippe Couillard, then our health minister and being invited
to attend a National Women’s professional hockey team’s fundraising game.
On June 13 th , we will be paddling, at the Lachine Canoe club, sending you our best
wishes. Pictures will follow.
Abreast In A Boat members, it’s been 20 years and we would love it if you would
make Montreal a paddling venue in 2016! We promise to show you a good time!
Montreal Challenge, 2014
Two Abreast
Montreal, Canada
Established 1997
30 members: age
range 45-85
www.twoabreast.ca
info@twoabreast.ca
(514) 387-6132

SNCC Hope Floats
Hope Floats Women’s Dragon Boat Crew was formed in 2011 by a group of women, mainly breast
cancer survivors, looking for a dragon boat club in Niagara, Ontario. Breast cancer survivors may
temporarily lose their health, and paddling is a physical, yet stress-free, activity that enables them to
rebound quickly. They were immediately welcomed to the South Niagara Canoe Club in Welland as the
Club’s first survivor and supporter crew, and since then have competed in 4-7 dragon boat festivals each
year. The crew won their first gold medal in Port Perry in 2012 and have added several silver and gold
medals to their repertoire since.
In 2010 and 2014, their survivors participated in IBCPC International Festivals in Peterborough, Ontario
and Sarasota, Florida. In the latter, they entered as a composite team called the Grape Canadian
Survivors to honour the outstanding vineyards of the Niagara region.
Hope Floats practices on the beautiful Welland Recreational Canal, host venue of the 2015 Pan Am
Games and the IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships
In the words of one of the founding members, “This experience has been an awakening of a new life,
and I can honestly say that I am lucky to have experienced breast cancer as it has enriched my life
through dragon boating. It made me realize [my cancer diagnosis] was not a death sentence but rather a
wake-up call to do something more with my life.”
What better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary than attending the St. Catharines Dragon Boat
Festival and participating in the carnation ceremony?

Peterborough Survivors Abreast began in 1999. In 2001, the team decided to host our own community
Dragon Boat Festival in Peterborough. All paddlers were asked to raise pledge money for the local
Breast Assessment Centre. In 15 years, the Festival has raised almost 3 million dollars and our hospital can
boast it has the most up to date breast assessment equipment in the country. Recently that reputation
lured a top notch Radiology Director to our hospital. We also raised money to bring a radiation bunker to
Peterborough which is a remarkable offering to local patients. Our team name is proudly displayed on both
the Assessment Centre and the reception area of the Bunker.
In 2010 Survivors Abreast successfully hosted the first official International Survivors Dragon Boat Festival.
Peterborough was wrapped in pink and hundreds of volunteers embraced teams from all over the world for
a week of celebrations. It is still highlighted as an example of how our team and our community can work
together to benefit all.
Survivors Abreast has a current membership of 40 active paddlers ranging in age from 40 to 80. We travel
to races throughout Ontario, the USA and Quebec during our season to raise awareness and to promote
exercise, particularly dragon boating, as a lifeline for people battling breast cancer. We will be celebrating
the birth of dragon boat paddling for survivors on June 13th at our own Peterborough Festival with sister
teams from the Province. After we race for the MacKenzie Cup, 175 happy survivors from Ottawa, Pickering,
Toronto, Kingston, North Bay and Peterborough will be dining and dancing at a huge banquet facility in the
City. Paddles UP - It’s going to be a PAR TEE to remember!!
Peterborough Survivors Abreast
Peterborough, Ontario, CANADA
Contact: Joan Bates - joannie33@live.com
www.PeterboroughSurvivorsAbreast.com

SATURDAY JUNE 13TH, 2015 PETERBOROUGH ONTARIO FESTIVAL - PINK SENSATIONS WON 1ST!
PINK SENSATIONS
• PADDLING OUT OF PICKERING, ONTARIO, CANADA
• ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 2004
• 28 MEMBERS, RANGING IN AGES 30+ TO 70+
• www.facebook.com/PinkSensations
Our first regatta was in Pickering in 2004. We had
practiced hard the previous month and we eagerly
awaited the starting call for our very first race. Off
we went and part way down the course, on a rough
windy day, the boat started rocking and before we
knew what had happened we lost our drummer
over board. This didn’t stop this determined gal.
The safety boat picked her up and she insisted on
being put back on board and we finished the race.
We had five amazing years being affiliated
with “Fifth Avenue Collection”. This wonderful
friendship allowed us to purchase uniforms,
paddles, life jackets and to hire a coach as well as
participate in many festivals.
We proudly display our trophies at Hearth Place
Cancer Support Centre in Oshawa as we have
continued to attend this location over the years
for meetings.
During the 12 seasons that we have paddled
together, we have travelled to a number of
Regattas in Ontario as well as heading to
the World International Breast Cancer
Regatta in Australia in 2007, Peterborough
in 2010 and Sarasota in 2014. In 2009 we
ventured to Halifax, Nova Scotia to be part
of Halifax’s “Bosom Buddies” celebration of
their l0th anniversary. In 2011 we travelled
to Montreal where we placed first in the
Breast Cancer Cup.
On our tenth Anniversary in 2013, we hosted
a number of teams to cap off 10 successful
years. Great racing, great food and great
friendships were experienced by all who
attended along with some wonderful team
spirit as each team “sang” for their lunch.
We spent June 13th, 2015 at the Peterborough
festival, where we took first place winning the
MacKenzie Cup, it was a beautiful day.
Peterborough ran a fantastic festival, capping
it off with dinner and dancing.

Women Alike Abreast A River, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada
Team established - 1999 Current Members: 25 Age Range: 42 – 79
Contact: Captain - Carol Clarke (billandcarolclark@gmail.com) Website: www\women-alike.ca
In the fall of 1998 members of the Women Alike Breast Cancer Support Group were attending an annual survivor’s
camp. One of the presentations was about Dragon Boating for breast cancer survivors and from this beginning,
Women Alike Abreast A River was born. We are fortune that the East River runs through our area, so now, all we
needed was a dragon boat. With the encouragement and guidance of RN, Joanne Cumminger, the driving force
behind our support group, we set about fund raising. Pictou County was generous and supportive. Our boat
arrived June 30, 1999.
One of our biggest challenges was learning how to paddle this impressive looking boat. There were no seasoned
dragon boaters in our area and many of our members had never before paddled a boat of any type. What to do?
Jump in and start paddling! That first night, we were quite a sight. Weaving from one side of the river to the other
and with no two paddles striking the water in unison, we resembled a drunken centipede unable to make up its
mind which way to go.
With the help of several dedicated volunteer coaches, we practice and compete from May to October each year.
While most of our races are in the Maritime Provinces, we have enjoyed several trips to Ontario, competed in
Vancouver on their 10 th anniversary and most recently, we attended the IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival
in Sarasota, Florida.
Each year Pictou County holds its own Race on the River Dragon Boat Festival, and the funds raised support several
charities including our dragon boat team. The people and businesses of Pictou County have embraced dragon
boating with a generosity rarely matched.
In celebration of 20 years of paddling passion, Abreast A River dragon boat team invited all breast cancer survivors
to join them on June 13 at the New Glasgow Marina. While the weather did not cooperate with our plans, after
rescheduling, and despite cold windy conditions, we finally gathered together, munched on hotdogs, sweets and
soft drinks and swapped stories with members, past members and guests.

A bit of history about the connection about Abreast in a Boat and Busting with
Energy, Busting with Energy was formed in April 1999 after a group of breast cancer
survivors in Saskatoon heard a presentation from two members of Abreast in a Boat.
The two members from Abreast in a Boat were Judy Huber and Donna Schaefer, they
had done presentations in five western Canadian cities. In May 1999 there were 17
breast cancer dragon boat teams in Canada, these included Abreast in a Boat,
Sistership, Breast Friends, Busting with Energy, Chemo Savvy, Knot a Breast, Two
Abreast , Bosom Buddies
There is correspondence in the files between Bev Barber, Busting with Energy and
Sandy Smith from Abreast in a Boat. This is the Sandy Smith that has the Sandy Smith
Global Race named after her at the International Participatory Breast Cancer Dragon
Boat Festivals.
Busting with Energy's first festival was in Saskatoon June 1999 and then in Regina
September 1999. The times in Saskatoon were 4:34, 3:16 and 3:02 . The team in
Regina had friends join so that they had enough paddlers, the race times were in the 4
minute range,
Below is the team description that was used in 1999.
"Busting with Energy is an all-women team whose members are breast cancer
survivors. This team is paddling to raise awareness of breast cancer and to help
women and men who have had this disease understand that, despite the physical
limitations imposed by breast cancer and its treatment, survivors can lead full active
lives which include regular and even strenuous exercise. Busting with Energy thanks its
sponsor, SaskEnergy, who financially made this possible. The team also thanks Lindy
Antonini, Anne-Marie Graham, Ann Haver and Patricia Dewar, who volunteered their
time and expertise to set up an exercise program and to coach and lead the team"
1999 2014

DRAGONS OF HOPE
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Liz Lindstrom, liz@rmlcontracting.com
Our Chant
Butts against the gunnel
Ladies all in pink
Paddles at the ready
Let’s keep this boat in sink
Hope brought us together
Faith keeps us afloat
Friendships last forever
We are the Dragons of Hope
The Dragons of Hope began in 1999 when a breast cancer survivor from the local Breast Cancer Support
Group became aware of the wonderful sport of Dragon Boat paddling and racing, and it’s positive effect
on women with breast cancer so she organized a team from the support group. We currently have 23
members ranging in age from 33 to 79. Today you just have to be a breast cancer survivor and not
necessarily affiliated with the support group to join our team. Our local “Lakehead Canoe Club”
supports us in that they store our “own” dragon boat and lend support in both coaching and steering.
We do not have ongoing sponsors so must fundraise in order to purchase paddles and life jackets, and
attend festivals as we do not charge a membership fee.
On Saturday June 13 th our team went for a paddle on the lake with another dragon boat team joining us
in the celebration. We held a Pink Flower Ceremony and afterwards we enjoyed anniversary cake and
pink bubbly to toast 20 years of Breast Cancer Dragon Boating.

DRAGONS ABREAST TORONTO
In 1997 our founder, Eleanor Nielsen, began encountering members of Vancouver’s Abreast in a Boat at
breast cancer conferences. She had the opportunity to go out in a practice boat and was convinced Toronto
should have a team for those recovering and living with breast cancer. Thirty-three nervous and
inexperienced women met in November 1997 and agreed to take on the dragon boat challenge. Dragon
boating already existed in Toronto, so boats, coaches and festival venues were readily available. In the
spring of 1998, Dragons Abreast members took to the water for the first time on Lake Ontario, and realized
their lives were about to change.
1998 was a memorable year for Dragons Abreast Toronto with 2 Toronto festivals and our first road trip to
Montreal where a special bond was formed. Since that year there have been many more festivals; our
adventures have been as varied as our team members, and too many to list. We have enjoyed international
travel, participating in all International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission Participatory Festivals and have
had the joy of seeing new members discover dragon boating each year. Our membership now averages 76
active members with ages ranging from 34-85, drawn from Toronto and the surrounding area. The biggest
challenge has been adapting to meet the varied needs of members who have been with us from 1-18 years.
In 2001, Dragons Abreast Toronto hosted the second conference for the growing number of breast cancer
teams, and in 2002, the book How to Ride a Dragon: Women with Breast Cancer Tell Their Stories, was
published. This year two crews participated in Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, helping host team
Survivors Abreast celebrate their 15th anniversary. The team will also be competing at the Pan American
Club Crew Championships in August. Through all our events we keep our focus on our mission to raise
awareness of life after breast cancer, while honouring those lost with flower ceremonies.
Our members have participated in many media events, documentaries throughout the years. The team
appeared in Justin Hines’ music video Courage, Global News has done feature stories on the team, and the
daughter of one of our team members produced a documentary about her mother called Given Your History.
Dragons Abreast Toronto is a supporter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure / Paddle
for the Cure, Willow Breast and Hereditary Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, Wellspring and The
Yonge Street Mission. Our generous Sponsors/ Donors included Maritime Life, Jones New York, Precise
ParkLink, and the Mississauga Chargers Hockey Team. We are most grateful to our main sponsor,
Scotiabank, for their continued support over the years.
www.dragonsabreast.ca • facebook.com/dragonsabreastTO

Abreast In A Boat
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Established 1996
Membership hovers between 175 and 200 each year
Age range late 20’s to early 80’s
Contact: www.abreastinaboat.com
Initiated by Dr. Don McKenzie, Diana Jespersen and Sherri Magee, Abreast In A Boat (AIAB) was a
project to test the effect of vigorous upper body exercise on women who had been treated for breast
cancer and who could be at risk of developing lymphedema. One dragon boat of 24 women in 1996
subsequently developed into crews in five areas around Vancouver. Each year AIAB welcomes new
paddlers to these crews and a sixth crew has formed that paddles only for recreation, not for racing.
Our organization is sponsored primarily by Scotiabank, one of Canada’s largest banks and the
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Scotiabank also supports teams in other Canadian regions. In
addition, a number of community partners have joined us over the years. We are so very fortunate to
have this support and we are very grateful.
AIAB members have paddled in regattas around the world as this activity has grown. We also
participate in local events to promote breast cancer awareness and deliver the message that a full
and active life is possible after a breast cancer diagnosis. In 2005 we celebrated Ten Years Abreast
with over 60 teams from seven countries joining us in Vancouver for a three day Festival.
This year we celebrated 20 Years Abreast at False Creek, Vancouver, where this amazing adventure
began. Sponsors, supporters, former paddlers and civic officials were invited to join us for a symbolic
paddle and Flower Ceremony, while guests cheered from the official garden in Alder Bay that was
flowered with fuchsia for the occasion. We all made music on the lawn as drums and rhythmic
facilitation were provided by Lulu Leathley, who we enjoyed so much at the 10 th . The party continued
in the Community Centre gym also decked out in fuchsia.
Dr. Don McKenzie spoke about exercise as cancer therapy and how dragon boat paddling is changing
the lives of women diagnosed with breast cancer around the world. Jane Frost, one of those first 24
paddlers and President of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission www.ibcpc.com
reported there are now breast cancer dragon boat teams on five continents. A world wide
movement, indeed!

Breast Cancer
Survivors
Conquering the Dragon
Victoria BC
ISLAND BREASTSTROKERS-OUR STORY.
Who would have thought a research project at UBC twenty years ago would have had
such a worldwide impact and that part of that history would have an Island
connection.
Marjorie Woodroffe, a breast cancer survivor, watched as the original Abreast In
A Boat team raced in Victoria’s Inner Harbour in 1996. She was so moved by them
and motivated to do something that she could only think “If they can do it, why
can’t we?” A group of survivors, their friends and families met in the Fall of
1996 and the Island Breaststrokers dragon boat team was formed.
We competed in the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival in August 1997. AIAB now had two
teams and so, with us racing as well, the first ever Breast Cancer Challenge race
was held here that year.
Our team has continued to practice and race but is also committed to promoting
public awareness of breast cancer and the need for early detection.
Over the years IBS has raced, not only in North America, but around the world in
such places as South Africa, Singapore, Australia and Israel. Our home base now
is Vancouver Island Paddling on the Gorge.
We are grateful for the support we have received from the community and we
continue to help fundraise and support agencies such as the CBCF, the BC Cancer
Foundation and local mammography units as well as Encore, a breast cancer
survivor support group offered by the YWCA . As well, as a result of Marjorie’s
connection with breast cancer patients in Nepal, we have been able to support
them with prostheses, bras, “pink ribbon” items and some financial support. The
patients and nursing staff there are so moved and thankful that we think of them
and Marjorie’s visits are a visible demonstration that there is life after breast
cancer.
Our trophy for the Breast Cancer Challenge Race in Victoria was made by local
sculptor Loretta Joseph to help celebrate our 10th Anniversary. It is hard to
believe that next year we too will be celebrating our 20th!
Currently we have 31 members ranging from late 30 to 76 and about 20 non-members.
www.islandbreaststrokers.com

IBS could not have done this without the encouragement and support of Dr. Don
McKenzie and the original AIAB team. We would like to thank them and congratulate
them for their 20 years of commitment to the cause.
We will be celebrating our 20th in fine style next year in 2016.
Contact:
Island Breaststrokers
Victoria, BC,
Website: islandbreaststrokers.com.
Contact is through (ibspaddler@gmail.com) or Catriona Campbell- presidentalanglencampbell@shaw.ca
www.islandbreaststrokers.com

Windsor Essex County, Ontario, Canada
Wonderbroads
Est. 2002
The WonderBroads is the breast cancer survivor dragonboat team of Windsor Essex County,
Ontario, Canada. On inspiration from Abreast In A Boat and Dr McKenzie, our team formed in
2002 with our first paddling experience being our community’s first Dragonboat festival. Since
that time, our team has grown steadily in both skill and membership. We now boast more than
50 active members ranging in age from 34 to 82 years and have raced competitively at local,
national and international levels. Our membership is open to all breast cancer survivors. Along
with various recruitment activities, our local Cancer Centre invites us to introduce
dragonboating to recent cancer survivors during their wellness series.
On June 13, 2015, the Wonderbroads joined survivors around the world to celebrate the 20 th
anniversary of Breast Cancer Dragon Boating with a team paddle. During the paddle, we held a
private Rose ceremony in gratitude and honor of our many supporters, teammates and breast
cancer survivors around the world. To commemorate this special occasion, our team also
created a Pink Glove video which will soon be available on our web site. We are forever grateful
to the Abreast In A Boat pioneers – their courage and passion led the way for so many!
Our Vision: All breast cancer survivors of Windsor Essex County experience the benefits of
dragon boat paddling with the WonderBroads.
Our Mission: WonderBroads are breast cancer survivors who celebrate life and maximize
wellness through dragon boat paddling.
Our Values: Courage, Commitment, Camaraderie, Teamwork, Respect

Chemo Savvy
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
www.chemosavvy.ca
Since our inaugural meetings in the fall of 1997 and first
time on the Red River in the spring of 1998, we created a
veritable splash and are known for creating award winning
parade entries, media appearance and holding public information
displays which keep us grounded in our mission on
and off the water. Commitment to the sport of dragon boat
and physical activity remains paramount to our team all the
while being mindfully inclusive of those more vulnerable
who need our help to work towards a renewed state of
health and fitness.
With the support of our corporate partner Scotiabank, the
team continues to thrive in our community delivering a
message of LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER!
Since 1996 the world has changed; how do we ever look
back and imagine our lives without Abreast in a Boat.
Where would we be? Where would the breast cancer survivor
movement be? How much research into exercise and
cancer would there be yet today? Would pink pfd’s and
paddles have worldwide sales? Would we still be told not
to vacuum? Yes the world has changed, and thanks to
Abreast in a Boat we have all been that change.
Our June 13 th celebration, Abreakfast in a Boat, saw a
beautiful summer morning on a welcoming Red River. Joy,
friendship, survivorship and lots of food made for a very
special event. In honour of this momentous occasion we
wrote a new verse for the Abreast in a Boat song.
Beautiful pancake weather
We’re out on the water with them.
We’ll fuel ourselves with coffee
As we paddle with special friends
We will honour our Vancouver sisters
They’re the reason that we’re all afloat
As we toast twenty years of great paddling
We are having breakfast in a boat
HAPPY 20 YEARS
ABREAST IN A BOAT AND DR. DON….
words can not express our gratitude.
I am a SURVIVOR
I am HOPE
I am CHEMO SAVVY

We are Pool of Life and
we are based in
Liverpool, England. Our
team was set up in 2004
and we currently have 37
members. Our youngest
member is 28 and our
oldest member is 75.
You can find us at
www.pooloflife.net, on
Twitter as @pooloflife1
and on Facebook as Pool
of Life, Breast Cancer
Survivors Dragon Boat
Team.
We were set up in 2004
by Eve Elliot Pearson.
She was in Philadelphia at a 5 day dragon boat event with Amathus DBC when she heard
lots of singing and laughing, she went to investigate and came across her first pink dragon
boat team….Pink Phoenix, then another Chemo Savvy! Eve watched these women race
with smiles and joy on their faces and at the end of the event when they held their 2
minute flower ceremony she was sobbing with the emotion of it all, that’s when Eve knew
we needed this back in Liverpool. It took some time but on October 31st 2004 Pool of Life
was launched in Liverpool, the very first breast cancer survivor dragon boat team in the
United Kingdom.
Pool of Life has gone from strength to strength and we have supported many women,
their families and friends after cancer. We hold an annual festival called Dragons &
Flowers where up to 18 teams of novice paddlers come together to compete for various
trophies. We raise thousands of pounds from this event for ourselves and also for various
cancer charities. We have also raised money for a local breast cancer unit called the
Marina Dalglish Retreat Centre helping women who have just had surgery providing
beauty therapy sessions, massages, and alternative therapies, to enjoy a little pampering
when they are feeling at their worst.
We have had many adventures along the way, taking part in the World IBCPC
Championships in Singapore, the Great River Race in London and the Vogalonga in Venice
to name a few.
To celebrate the 20 th Anniversary of breast cancer paddling we took our
boat, Hope, out for a paddle around the iconic buildings on the Liverpool
waterfront, we sang and laughed just like those teams in Philadelphia
that sparked the BC dragon boat movement through Eve Elliot Pearson
all those years ago. We sat on the water and marvelled at the thought
that all over the world breast cancer survivors were out there paddling
just like us, we felt connected to you all there and then. Here’s to
another 20 years and another and another!

Breast Cancer Survivors & Supporters Club
Failte
Hello to all our
friends in the great
world of Dragon Boat
racing for Breast
Cancer Survivors!
We are the DONEGAL DRAGONS!
We are the 1st Breast Cancer Survivor and supporters
Dragon Boat Club , here in the North West of Ireland.
We are from a lovely wee town called Donegal in the
county of Donegal.
Our club has just been formed this year and we had
our Launch on the 21st June 2015. We paddle out on
the bay of Donegal which is in the Atlantic Ocean .
We have currently nearly 30 members and 14 of
these are Breast Cancer Survivors and the rest are
supporters. We have no age limit and our youngest
member is 18 and her nick name is BabyBop Burke !
Our Website is still a work in progress but we have a
very active Facebook page “Donegal Dragons”
Our Chairperson is Deborah Bonner and she can be
contacted at deborahdgl@hotmail.co.uk
Our Story:
My name is Deborah Bonner and I was diagnosed with
Breast Cancer 5 years ago in 2010 shortly after my
40th birthday party. After my 2 years of treatment was
over I felt that I needed help , but I was unsure what
sort of help I needed. So I heard about Dragon Boats
for the first time in June 2014 at a Relay For Life
Conference. I travelled for over 6 months to a club
in Dublin called the Plurabelle Paddlers . This was a
four hour, each way, bus journey which I made every
2 weeks. I was part of Team Ireland who travelled to
Sarasota in Oct 2014. This was the best experience of
my life. Long story short I have now set up our own
club here with the help of new friends for life .
To date we have 2 Dragon Boats .
1st Dragon Boat is called “The Inspire”
2nd Dragon Boat is called “Khalessi”
We have written our own chant and we sing it every
time we paddle and we all stay in time to the beat.
So we are very excited to be part of your 20th
Anniversary celebrations. We had a party to celebrate
with yee and we had The Awakening of the Dragon
and the Dotting of the Eye Ceremony. We had the
whole town out to march with the town band and we
had a lion dance.
Some year we hope to
bring the IBCPC event
to Donegal!!! See yee
all in Florence in 2018!!!
Love from
Donegal Dragons

Plurabelle Paddlers (Dublin, Ireland).
Established 2010
60+members
www.plurabellepaddlers.com
Plurabelle Paddlers would like to congratulate and say thank you to our friends in Abreast In
A Boat on the celebration of the club’s 20 years of paddling.
Based at the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, Plurabelle Paddlers was Ireland’s first breast
cancer dragon boat team when it was formed in 2010. We currently have over 60 members,
ranging in age from those in their 30’s to 70’s. We recently marked our own 5th anniversary
by unveiling a beautiful granite bench at the Grand Canal Dock in memory of team mates we
have loved and lost.
In 2014, members of Plurabelle Paddlers joined paddlers from all over Ireland to participate
in the IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival in Sarasota, Florida. Team Ireland was the
brainchild of Fiona Tiernan, the inspirational lady who founded Plurabelle Paddlers and who
first promoted the idea of a composite Irish team. Fiona sadly passed away last year, but
her wish was that Team Ireland would help to nurture the growth of dragon boat racing
thoughout the country and that is exactly what has happened. As a direct result of Team
Ireland, new teams have already been established in Belfast and Donegal.
In fostering the sport in Ireland, Plurabelle Paddlers has looked to the wonderful example
set by Abreast In A Boat. You paved the way and encouraged the worldwide growth of a
sport that has given so much joy to those who have had a breast cancer diagnosis.
So, thank you Abreast In A Boat for being such trail blazers and congratulations on your very
special anniversary....Paddles Up!

Astro
Empoli,Italy
“ASTRO” in Italian is the abbreviation for the Cancer
Support and Rehabilitative Therapy Association in Empoli,
near Florence. With Dr. Caponi, our breast cancer
oncologist and surgeon (and vice-president of ASTRO), we
started working on doing physiotherapy using a dragon boat
in 2011. The Canoe Club gave us an old dragon boat which
we restored and by June, we were ready to start paddling on the Arno River. At first, our
goal was to participate in the physiotherapy project, but soon enough, we fell in love
with dragon boating, and we formed the Astro Dragon Ladies dragon boat team. You
can find us at www.astrodragonladies.it and on Facebook. We are affiliated with the
Italian Dragon Boat Association and also members of the IBCPC.
Our team is now composed of sixteen breast cancer survivors, and we are joined by five
supporters who share all of our dragon boat activities. Since we can only paddle on the
Arno River from May to October, we train in the gym during the other months. In 2013
we participated in the Dublin Dragon Boat Festival, and the next year we paddled in
Venice’s Vogalonga along the Grand Canal and in the European Championships in
Ravenna. A small delegation from the Astro Dragon Ladies met and paddled on the
Danube with the Vienna Pink Dragons to help them set up a new team there. We often
travel to other parts of Italy to join in events put on by our sister paddlers. Here in the
area around Empoli, we organize activities to convey our message of prevention and of
a life-style which promotes psycho-physical recovery from breast cancer through dragon
boat paddling. One of our awareness events, “Pink October 2014”, brought together
people from all eleven communities in our area.
What a fabulous event we created on the weekend of June 13/14 -- the third
anniversary of the Astro Dragon Ladies, and the fact that the date coincided with the
20 th anniversary of Abreast in a Boat made our celebration extra-special! The whole
community was involved, including the business people who filled their store-front
windows with pink ribbons. The mayors of all five surrounding municipalities hopped in
the boat with us for the Flower Ceremony. This year, for the first time, we organized a
race for supporters which took place after the breast cancer races. It was great to see
the emotion and enthusiasm that these men and women of all ages showed, and we
expect that they’ll continue to come out to cheer us on and maybe even get the dragon
boat “bug” themselves. But it was mostly the presence of our sisters – Dragonette from
Torino, Florence Dragon Lady from Florence, Il Rosa che Osa from Rome, Pink
Butterfly from Rome and the Pink Dragons from Vienna – who infused the day with their
vitality and joy and ensured the day’s success. Our two-day event was filled to the brim
with diverse activities – a conference of doctors who deal with women diagnosed with
breast cancer, recreational sports races, cultural events (a visit to a ceramics museum),

a theatrical show, and because after all, we live in Tuscany, great food was everywhere!
We also took the opportunity to launch our beautiful new 10-seater mini-dragon boat,
purchased with the help of friends.
For the future, we are already getting ready to give all of our support to our good
friends, Florence Dragon Lady, to help them make the 2018 international festival at
Lake Bilancino and Florence a memorable event for everyone.
Franca Criseo
Astro Dragon Ladies
Empoli, Italy

Florence Dragon Lady LILT
Florence, Italy
Est. 2006
Any affiliations you have with local cancer organisations.
We are members of “LILT”, the Italian League against Cancer, Florence division.
We refer to “Ce.Ri.On.” (the Oncological Rehabilitation Center) for psycho-physical rehabilitation and
follow-up, and our dragon boat training is supported by the Canottieri Comunali Firenze.
Your Story: How you got started and how you have evolved.
The Florence Dragon Lady team was born on February 14 2006, Valentine’s Day, and since that
afternoon we have been practising on the Arno River twice a week, training for the many regattas we
take part in. Since 2011 the “Florence Dragon Boat Pink Meeting” has become a meeting point for Italian
and foreign teams, a place for dialogue and BCS discussions, and regattas. Our team has won the Italian
Championship several times, and we participated as a full team both in the
and also in the memorable adventure of the 2014 IBCPC Festival in Sarasota.
Every year we paddle in Venice’s exciting Vogalonga race along the Venetian lagoon and the Grand
Canal. We have forged strong ties with our local government and the region in which we live in order to
spread the culture of prevention, rehabilitation and awareness. During one of our fun awareness events
-- “Sieci turns pink” – the people of this town east of Florence decorate the streets and all of the shops in
pink as we all celebrate together. Of course, our biggest upcoming challenge is to prepare to receive
breast cancer survivor teams from around the world in Florence for the Fifth IBCPC Festival in 2018.
And finally, what you did to celebrate 20 years of breast cancer paddling
We were invited by the Astro Dragon Ladies of Empoli, a town near Florence, to celebrate a double
anniversary – 20 years of paddling by our oldest sisters who live on the other side of the world and 3
years of paddling by our young sisters just round the corner from us. We celebrated with a weekend of
camaraderie with sisters from the host towns of Empoli, Rome and Turin as well as Svenja, a paddler
from the Vienna Pink Dragons.
Paddling, chatting, laughing, lazing around and toasting our joy in belonging to this international
movement was a great way to consolidate friendship. Five mayors of nearby towns joined our
celebration on the dragon boats, each wearing the red, white and green belt which denotes their
adminstrative roles. The region of Empoli is famous for its pottery-making, and so we were delighted to
visit the local museum that day. In the interactive section of the visit, we got right into it, experiencing
the pleasure of making clay, laughing like kids with playdough! It was a day that none of us will forget!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/157071110988403/

Our name is PINK AMAZONS – DRAGON BOAT, the first BCS dragon boat team in Milan-Pavia, in the Lombard Region
of Italy.
Our story began in June 2012 when we sat on a Dragon Boat for the first time, at Idroscalo lake - Milan, then we decided to
continue this adventure with enthusiasm.
In March 2013 the PINK AMAZONS – Dragon Boat was officially born as an association with the efforts of 7 women: Antonella,
Emma, Floriana, Luisella, Maria Antonia, Silvia and Tullia.
Our team trains at Idroscalo Lake three times a week in all weather conditions all the year long.
We made efforts to participate in many events in Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice, Valcavallina-Bergamo, Turin, Empoli, Ravenna,
Auronzo and Ireland: Dublin.
Actually we have now grown to 26 members.
The “PINK AMAZONS” is affiliated with “EUROPA DONNA” (Italian Cancer Organization) since 2013 and on 25 October 2013
we received the prize “Amazzoni nello sport” from the Lombard Region.
We have three sponsors that gave us shirts (LE FACCINE), caps (EDT European Delivery Truck srl), B&B SERVICE SRL for
the embroidery of our logo and TEXTILES FRAU PEREZ S.L. for placemats for breakfast; our association is supported only
through our own efforts. We sell items during the Christmas period and at the conferences we organize every year.
For us every event with our Italian Sisters is a memorable adventure.
We have a dream: to reach every woman touched by breast cancer in Milan and give them friendship and hope sharing our
boat and our smile!
Love and Kisses
Maria Antonia BOTTAZZI
President
PINK AMAZONS
Our contacts:
mabottazzi59@yahoo.it
www.pinkamazons.it
Facebook: pink amazons
In the photo of June 13th, 2015 for 20 years celebration
From the left down: Emma, Nadia, Maria Antonia, Paola, Laura, Tullia Luana
Standing: Piera, Silvia, Daniela C., Antonella O., Raffaella, Luisella, Antonella P., Romina, Daniela
M. Our mascottes: Achille, Ares, Edoardo and Dado (the little White dog),

www.pagaierosa.org –info@pgaierosa.org - Contact Mariagrazia Punzo
Pink Butterfly was born in 2003 in Rome, first BCS Italian crew, thanks to Orlanda Cappelli. We work hard
to be independent, to propose and realize scientific studies for demonstrating benefits of dragon boat
training. Very important is the support of Susan Komen that fund some of our projects. We collaborate
with universities and oncology research centers and hospitals. We train on the lake of Castel Gandolfo,
next to Rome where even the Popes chose their summer residence since the Rennaissance. Three
generations of women in the same boat, joined by love for dragon boat and this second large family. Our
crew consists of 42 women between 22 and 72 year, all breast cancers survivors and members of Pagaie
Rosa Dragon Boat non-profit organisation. Pagaie Rosa is accredited in Rome and in Lazio as a breast
cancers survivors’ organisation.
We have affiliations with:
Susan G. Komen Italy
Oncological Hospitals in Rome (IFO – San Gallicano, Policlinico Umberto I, Campus Bio Medico, S.
Andrea,)
Universities in Rome (Tor Vergata, La Sapienza)
Orgnizations (Incontra Donna, Europa Donna, Donne in sicurezza, Donne@Sport)
Pagaie Rosa works very hard to ensure to Pink Butterfly training in boat, promoting dragon boat for BCS,
participating in sports and medical events, and all needs. Pagaie Rosa realized very important projects
with Susan G. Komen Italy and Regione Lazio grants.
Some of our special activities:
- 2009, 2010 and 2011 - Tevere Rosa: Dragon boat BCS Festival
- 2011 Susan G. Komen project: Dragon boat' benefits on BCS (scientific study)
- 2011 - Tor Vergata University - Meeting on Dragon boat' benefits on BCS (partecipant:Doctor Don
McKenzie and Doctor Riccardo Masetti Susan G. Komen President)
- 2012 Susan G. Komen project: Pink Butterfly in tour
- 2013 Susan G. Komen project: BCS' postoperative healing: a comparative study of the tissue repair
process and arm's functional healing
- 2013 - Dragon Boat Festival for our 10th anniversary
- 2013 - 1st edition Pink Nik: open day for supporters, friends and new sisters with our doctors
(oncologist, physiatrist, psychologist,...), paddle all together!
- 2014 Open Journal of Immunology, 2014, 4, 22-29 - Effects of Dragon Boat Training on
Cytokine Production and Oxidative Stress in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study
- 2014 - 2nd edition Pink Nik
- 2015 - 3rd edition Pink Nik
We celebrated 20 years of breast cancer paddling with a party in the boat: red wine, spaghetti and pizza
and paddles up! Very fun Italian style! Best wishes to all our sisters around the world. The strength and
courage of all of us to fight cancer with smiles, paddles, fellowship to feel good together in the same time.

Karalis Pink Team “Daniela Secchi”
Cagliari, Sardinia
Ezia Caredda
We are a group of twelve women, ranging from age 52 to 65, who paddle off
the south coast of Sardinia near the town of Cagliari. The winds in this area
are too strong for a dragon boat, and so we paddle in a Polynesian canoe
which we have named “Daniela Secchi” in honour of one of our young
teammates who lost her struggle with breast cancer. In fact, it was after
Daniela’s death that her mother actually sold her house and, with some of
the proceeds, bought us a training boat!
We have been paddling together since 2007, but it is only since 2014 that
our official organization “Associazione di Promozione Sociale Karalis Pink
Team “Daniela Secchi” has existed. Our pink team is involved in many
activities to promote paddling as a source of psycho-physical well-being for
those diagnosed with breast cancer. One event we particularly enjoy is
setting up a gazebo on the main piazza of Cagliari two Sundays a month
where we join other socially-conscious groups, including local farmers, to
spread the word about the benefits of exercise and good nutrition, and the
joy and hope that come from camaraderie and a sense of community.
Our team planned a big day to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of breast
cancer dragon boating. We would head out on the water for a three-hour
paddle in two Polynesian canoes, one a 6-seater and the other a 4-seater.
On the day of June 13, wearing our pink ribbon shirts, we all went down to
the launch site. However, the Scirocco wind was blowing too hard for us to
attempt the three-hour paddle. Disappointed, but undaunted, and with the
help of our trainers who attached their boats to ours by two ropes, the
bravest of us defied the winds, climbed into our canoes, and held ourselves
steady enough to celebrate this special anniversary with a Pink Flower
Ceremony together with our teammates and friends on the pier. As you can
see from the photo, the big smiles on our faces tell the whole story!!

PINK LIONESS IN VENICE address c/o RSC Bucintoro, 263 Dorsoduro, Venice, VE, Italy
Date of birth: 2009
Number of current members: 22, age range from 37 to 75 years
Contact information: tel and fax +39(0)415205630, leonesserosa@virgilio.it,
www.pinklionessinvenice.it, fb: Pink Lioness in Venice.
The team was founded in Venice on 12 September 2009, under the passionate guide of the
Olympic champions Daniele Scarpa and Sandra Truccolo with the collaboration of RSC Bucintoro
1882 and A.V.A.P.O. Venezia. Sandra and Daniele had previously been in contact with the pink
team Pink Butterfly in Rome and had founded a team in Cavallino-Treporti (VE)
At the beginning the team was composed by 7 members. In 2010, thanks to the contributions
received and to the help of RSC Bucintoro they managed to buy their first dragon boat and in 2012
a small boat that allows them to train all the year.
At the moment the Venetian pink paddlers are 22: De Rossi Annamaria, Giammanco Cinzia,
Padoan Luigina, Penso Rosanna, Piasentini Mara, Brusato Cristina, Rallo Alessandra, Zennaro
Donatella, Menin Anna, Torre Anna, Bartolozzi Manuela, Dalla Chiara Zancan Claudia, Bartolozzi
Cesira, Panciera Lidia, Zennaro Tiziana, Checchinato Francesca, Furlan Lucia, Henderson Karen,
Bozza Silvia, Piroddi Cristina, Marinetti Monica, Maria Pia Garuti.
internat
organized by Fick (Auronzo 2015-European DragonBoat Championships).
To raise money they promote activities such as salesof homemade cakes, local markets with
handmake objects produced by themselves, their families and friends. These initiatives are
fundamental both for self-financing and for becoming more and more known in the territory.
With their pink uniforms, lifesavers jackets and paddles, they have gained popularity in Venice and
are often invited to participate to water parades and events taking place during the year, promoting
Pink Lionesses participate to the outreach activities proposed by A.V.A.P.O, to the project
committee A.N.D.O.S. in Chioggia (VE). They support the birth of new teams by organizing
activities on the Grand Canal (for ex. Mestre, Chioggia e Montebelluna).
Every year, on the day before the Vogalonga ( it usually takes place at the end of May/beginning of
June) they promote a meeting with all the 'pink ladies' attending it . The meeting usually provides a
guided tour, a discussion about about new complementary activities in alternative to paddling and a
social dinner.

The Auckland Dragon Boat Association
Auckland New Zealand
Celebrated the 20th Anniversary with our
2 BC teams Busting With Life & Pink Dragons
in style– we all dressed up!
BC Beginnings 20th Birthday Bash & Splash
Super 10 Regatta Sunday 14th June 2015

The Busting With Life Dragon Boat Team was established in 1998 as the very first BC Team in New
Zealand. We wanted to provide hope and inspiration to those with breast cancer, and to make a
difference - through heightening awareness of breast cancer, and through encouraging active
living following a diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
That goal remains today.
Mission:
-To inspire those with breast cancer to
lead full and active lives.
-To improve the quality of life for
breast cancer survivors whilst research
to find a cure continues.
1998– Our First Training
session. We had no boat & no
idea how to paddle but we
knew how to have fun!
-To heighten awareness of breast
cancer, with a particular emphasis on
early detection.
We do this by:
-Being a dragon boat team –
competing and winning
Our First Race
1999 Hamilton Lake NZ
-Demonstrating through action that
age and lifestyle are no barrier
-Leading the way in building breast
cancer dragon boating throughout
New Zealand ( now 8 teams in NZ)
-Being a public voice on breast
cancer awareness issues
We have grown stronger as
individuals and as a team. We began
as strangers connected only through
a common disease, and grew to be
friends and a support network for one
another, for our families and for the
wider community.
June 2015—BWL Team President Leslie Ash &
Original Team member Linley Rivers holding the
Breast Cancer Survivors Challenge Shield.
Contested between BWL & AIAB on 3 occasions.
Note the Maple Leaf & Silver Fern.
We hope to contest it with AIAB again soon.
Over 1,000 years of combined Girl Power and Attitude in one boat
Come for a paddle with us!
Auckland -New Zealand
Email: info@bwl.org.nz
www.bustingwithlife.org.nz

In November 2005 an intrepid group consisting of 6 women, a young man, his wife and baby and a
dog met at the Band Rotunda in the Auckland Domain to form the Pink Dragons. They learned how
to paddle and slowly gathered other paddlers until they had team of 20 mixed cancer survivors. From
there the team grew quickly and by the 2nd Paddling season, we were 100% breast cancer survivors.
Since those early years we have seen many paddlers come and go, some passing through and some passing on, but the
team has grown from strength to strength, taking part in Regional and National regattas every year since and regularly take
part in monthly local Regattas organised through our parent organisation, Auckland Dragon Boat Association. Individually
team members have taken part in International BC regattas, joining other teams to compete and win all over the world, and
as a team, we have competed in Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
turn out in all weather conditions throughout the year to either help run events or to compete against all other teams. Pink
Dragons support local and National Breast Cancer groups and organisations whenever possible, through very pink and
fun, fundraising events, breakfast and walks like The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Support NZ and Breast
Cancer Aotearoa Coalition.
To celebrate the 20 years of Breast Cancer Dragonboat paddling, Pink Dragons, along with our sister Auckland team,
Busting with Life, took part in a special Breast Cancer 20th Anniversary Regatta organised by Auckland Dragon Boat
sheep. Unfortunately for us the winter winds stopped paddling but it didn’t stop us from celebrating all the same and a
good time was had by all.
Our most heartfelt thanks to those courageous women 20 years ago who put their trust in Dr McKenzie all those years ago
to give us the opportunities we have today.
Auckland, New Zealand • Established in 2005 • 20 Current Members • Age Range 38 - 75
www.pinkdragons.org.nz

BOOBOPS
Bay of Plenty breast cancer survivor’s dragon boat team, New Zealand
Members of the Bay of Plenty Dragon Boat Club
The Boobops team started 11 years ago. After many meetings,
an old wooden boat was found in Auckland, transported to
Tauranga and painted pink to enable us to finally get out on
the water. We originally had supporters in our team to make
up numbers. What a learning curve we had, and what a job
our first coach had! After being well last in every race, we
gradually improved to the point where we started winning!
Great excitement!
We combined with another team, the Treasure Chests from the
Waikato region to compete in the 2007 Abreast in Australia
regatta in Caloundra. We named our combined team the Pink
Kiwis, and just loved our first international competition.
Our team numbers continued to grow, and we now regularly
compete around New Zealand, with our National competition
alternating between the North and South Islands.
Last year we had a party for our 10th anniversary, and then
went to Florida for the IBCPC Festival. This was another
amazing experience, and so good to have new team members
enjoy the comradery of the teams from around the world.
With training, competing, getting together for fund raising,
off boat fitness, and many social events, we have become a
close team, having many laughs together. We still have two
members of the original team paddling.
Our club has two teams, two new boats, and we hold our own
regatta every November.
We train on the Tauranga harbour with the iconic Mount
Maunganui as a backdrop, a glorious setting.
Our team ages range from 45 to 73 years old.
To celebrate 20 years of dragon boating, we went for a winter
paddle, all dressed in our finest pink, and paddled off to our
city’s waterfront area. As it is now our winter, a few extra layers
had to be worn in the not so nice weather!
COMMENTS FROM TEAM MEMBERS:
PIP, Paddler and coach.
“Being part of the Boobops has been a wonderful experience.
At a time when my physical skills were deteriorating fast and
I was personally challenged by returning to my home country
to retire, I discovered a support group, a hilarious social milieu
and physically challenging, and competitive activity all in one
group of amazing ladies had been on a similar journey to cope
with cancer. How do I value this group? Priceless.”
RAE, 11 years a Boobop.
“The comradery is amazing on and off the water, I cannot
imagine life without paddling.”
ANDREA, aka “Little One”, our caller.
“Awesome team effort and team spirit. Great comradery, being
understood, enjoying life with like-minded people, amazing
adventures, and we laugh till we cry!”
JUDY, 11 years a Boobop.
“Who would have known that such an incredible experience
would come out of having breast cancer! It just goes to show
there is good in every bad. Some one should have told me
dragon boating is addictive. Sometimes I wonder if we are all
a little bit crazy – but it is comforting to know there are other
women all around the world doing the same crazy things!”
Top right and centre:
20th celebration paddle

Abreast of Life Dragon Boat Team
Christchurch
New Zealand
Established: 1999 www.abreastoflife.co.nz
Current membership: 26 and one indefatigable coach
Age Range: late 30’s through to late 70’s
Abreast of Life (ABOL) Christchurch feels very privileged to have been able to share in both
the 10 th anniversary celebrations with AIAB in Vancouver, Canada in 2005 and also in the
virtual paddle in Christchurch, New Zealand in June 2015.
We took to the water on the Kaiapoi River, North Canterbury, just north of Christchurch on
Saturday 13 June in the hope that due to the time difference that we would be one the first
teams in the world to paddle. It being midwinter in New Zealand we did not quite have to
break the ice but did have to cope with a ‘king’ tide and cool albeit sunny conditions,
probably the best winter conditions we could have asked for. When we put the boat in the
water we were battling very high tides and when we came back from our paddle the river
had risen so high that we had to wade to our cars and aquaplane across the car-park to get
out, definitely a lot of fun. We had a full boat and our coach joined us in paddling too, we
also had the support of a boat full of paddlers across a number of teams from our region that
just wanted to be out paddling with us on this special day.
ABOL was an early adopter of BC paddling and has been paddling since 1999. The last of
the founding members, Toni Reid, was still paddling until recently; sadly she passed away at
84 years of age earlier this year. So it was with thoughts of Toni in our heads and hearts that
we paddled 2 k’s down the river in glorious sunshine. At one point we closed our eyes to
remember those 21 brave angels from our boat/team who have passed away and we let
them join us, sitting on our shoulders as we paddled in silence.
Abreast of Life have had a number of successes and are currently New Zealand and South
Island champions. The ladies enjoy fabulous camaraderie and sister-ship. They come from
all walks of life, they are all different shapes and sizes, they range in age from late 30’s
through to late 70’s, neither age nor ability are a barrier. They do not dish out sympathy but
they are big on empathy and having loads of fun.

CanSurvive Wellington, New Zealand
www.cansurvive.co.nz
CanSurvive began in 2002 with a team of 20 enthusiastic, committed
people novices all but one. It took 20 minutes to load the old wooden
dragon boat as it wobbled all over the place. Wellington threw up strong
winds and freezing temperatures of 4°. It seemed a certainty that this
fledgling team were going to end up in the drink!
The team trained in wind, rain and cold, they crashed paddles, endured
capsize, bruises, aches, pains and exhaustion. The most fantastic bond
developed with lots of laughs, all made terrific new friends and found a huge belief in
themselves to succeed against all odds. What they lacked in finesse, they made up with tenacity
and soon became known as “paddlers with attitude”.
After several seasons of silver and bronze medals but near misses on the gold, the 2014
season saw CanSurvive finally achieve their goal to become National Champions. A fantastic
achievement for all and it didn’t stop there. At the 2014 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat
Festival against 101 teams from around the world, CanSurvive came 3rd in a stunning final. The
excitement lasted for many months a great achievement for our team of 25 paddlers aged 45 -
73, and was recognised regionally as we became Wellington Sports Team of the Year 2015. It
has been awesome!
Despite being the middle of winter here, we joined in the international celebrations marking 20
years of breast cancer survivors paddling on the water. It reminded us what it was all about - to
know that there is life after breast cancer and it can be wonderful and amazing - and our
mission is to share that with others

Doha Wireless Warriors

AmaBele Belles celebrate 20 years of paddling
The AmaBele Belles hail from Cape Town, South Africa. We were established in
2006 by stalwart Pam Newby and have about 30 members, ranging from 36 to 70
years young. AmaBele is a Xhosa word meaning breasts, and Belles of course
means beautiful ladies. We are the only Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team
on the African continent. We are fortunate to be able to paddle all year round, in the
shadow of Table Mountain.
We have worked with several cancer organisations such as Cancervive and Pink
Drive and some members have assisted in projects such as sponsoring mastectomy
surgeries; arranging pamper packs for patients in public hospitals; counselling pre
and post-surgery; giving talks, and generally helping to raise awareness of early
detection as well as the benefits of exercise for mastectomy patients.
The most memorable events for the Belles have been the international regattas.
Being the only BCS team in Africa means we have to travel far and wide to enjoy
BCS paddling events. Over the years, various Belles have been to Singapore,
Peterborough, Prague (as part of the South African team) as well as Sarasota.
Our biggest challenge is fundraising in order to attend these events. Our currency is
weak and sponsors are very hard to find. We aim to work tirelessly toward being a
part of the 2018 IBCPC event in Florence, Italy.
To celebrate 20 years of BCS paddling, we invited the local dragon boating teams to
don bright pink buffs and join us for some ‘Dancing to the Happy Song’, some
speeches, a cake and a 1000m regatta.

Dragon Dream Team – Akron, Ohio USA – Established June, 2007
The Dragon Dream Team is Ohio’s first and only all breast cancer survivor dragon boat team.
Established in June, 2007, the team launched its first dragon boat on Portage Lake almost 11 years to
the day after Abreast in a Boat Vancouver made its life changing, inaugural paddle on False Creek. We
celebrated our 9 th and AIAB’s 20 th anniversary with a pizza party and special cake.
76 year old Jessica Mader paddled with the Bosom Buddies of Nova Scotia while recuperating
from surgery. Upon returning to her Akron home, plastic surgeon, Dr. Douglas Wagner was so
impressed with her “athletic” spirit and overall wellness that he offered to buy her a dragon boat if she
would recruit his other breast cancer patients to “get on board.”
The Dragon Dream Team now has two dragon boats and 60 active paddling members. We are
women from 35 – 80, newly diagnosed and long term survivors, who share a spirit of camaraderie,
wellness, fun and friendship. In addition to paddling three times a week and participating in local,
national and international competitions, the team also hosts an annual community dragon boat festival
Our fundraising supports the Dragon Dream Team’s BOATLOADS of HOPE outreach program which
delivers hundreds of dragon boat embroidered, silk pashminas and a Dragon Dream Team message of
hope to newly diagnosed survivors.
Congratulations to Abreast in a Boat and to all our dragon boat sisters around the world. We
will continue to paddle with hope and courage to a finish line where there is no breast cancer.
Power of the Paddle
Courage of the Dragon
Racing Against Breast Cancer
Dragon Dream Team
www.dragondreamteam.org
suzbalmert@hotmail.com

Annapolis
Dragon Boat Club
Established May 2010
The Annapolis Dragon Boat Club was formed in 2010 to promote the 2500-year-old
sport of dragon boat racing and to provide a supportive environment for fitness and
the recovery and strengthening of persons who have survived cancer. Michael E.
Ashford, entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor, had the insight and resolve that led
to the formation of the Annapolis Dragon Boat Foundation. Our Club has grown to
over 65 members, supporters and survivors alike, ranging in age from 14-80. We
compete primarily in races on the East Coast.
Our greatest adventure to date was
competing in the 2014 International
Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission
Dragon Boat Festival in Sarasota,
Florida. We were recognized by the
Maryland General Assembly House and
Senate in January 2015 for being the
only team from Maryland participating
in this international event. We had the
honor of racing with Abreast in a Boat
in our first heat.
What an inspiring movement
you started!
To celebrate 20 years of breast cancer
paddling, we held our first-ever “Soft Paddle”,
an easy paddle for people undergoing
treatment, recovering from an injury, or for
whatever reason want a less intense paddling
experience. We filled the boat and worked to
build physical strength, endurance and
confidence with an emphasis on recreation,
synchrony, and harmony while on the
water...the beautiful Spa Creek of Annapolis.
Info@AnnapolisDragonboatClub.org
PO Box 6596, Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Hope Chest Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team
Buffalo, NY, USA
Hope Chest was founded in 2000. We were the second team established in
the United States. Our founder was a personal trainer whose best friend
was battling breast cancer. She actually started out by doing fitness
training with a small group of survivors until one of them showed her an
article on dragon boating. She took a giant leap of faith as she knew
nothing about boats or paddling let alone dragon boat racing. We
practiced by the side of an in-ground pool. The first time the team paddled
in a boat was at a race in Toronto. Sadly, her friend did not live long
enough to witness it.
We obtained our first boat in 2003 and our second boat in 2008. The Hope Chest numbers over 175 in
our organization with about 70 active paddlers. Our ages range from mid-forties to 86. We run an
outreach program with local hospitals, medical groups, etc., and continue to grow in numbers. We have
evolved into a year round wellness program empowering breast cancer survivors to live healthier lives.
We offer free year round exercise and nutrition classes along with our dragon boat program. We are
affiliated with several local breast cancer organizations. Our team leads the warm up for the local Susan
G Komen Race for the Cure. We are affiliated with the Breast Cancer Network of WNY, an advocacy and
educational center, and enjoy many of their educational programs.
The Hope Chest recently partnered with the Buffalo Athletic Club for Women and run all of our fitness
classes at their 3 sites. Our team members have full club memberships that are provided to them by our
board of directors and the fund raising that we do throughout the year.
Our most memorable adventure was attending the IBCPC in Sarasota, FL in October 2014. Again, our
board of directors provided the monies for air fare, transportation, and hotels. This was a trip of a
lifetime for many of our members.
On June 13, 2015, the 20 th anniversary of breast cancer dragon boat racing, we held our 4 th Annual Hope
Chest Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival. “Knot a Breast” from St. Catharines joined us and we had a
special race with 2 teams from Hope Chest and Knot a Breast. We also held our carnation ceremony
after that race. Later we did a video with a song and also took photos of both teams together. I think
the biggest thing about the 20 th anniversary is looking back at all the “sisterhood” it has created across
the world!

Dragonheart Vermont Sisters
Burlington, Vermont USA
Started 2004
62 bcs members from 45 -85 years old
Penni Cross, Linda Dyer @ info@dragonheartvermont.org
dragonheartvermont.org
Inspired by the ‘originals—Abreast in a Boat—the Dragonheart Vermont Sisters began
in 2004 with a borrowed boat, 4 members, and a big dream about paddling together on
Lake Champlain. Conceived as a special sisterhood of breast cancer survivors whose
focus would be on living, and not the disease, we now have 62 ‘Sisters’ who have
paddled around the world together.
Dragoheart Vermont is now in its 13th season of paddling. Our Dragonheart Vermont
has expanded its membership, mission, and dreams in its 13 years of paddling. With our
Dragonheart Vermont Sisters set as the focal point of the club, we are also proud to be
inclusive like our sport to include survivors and supporters; males and females; young
and not-so-young athletes; recreational to elite paddlers. We work together to get fitter
and stronger while having a blast. Many of our teams have raced all around the world.
All of our 177 Dragonheart members enjoy paddling, laughing, and working together.
There is nothing like being a part of a team.
On top of our passion for paddling, Dragonheart Vermont is all about community giving.
For the last ten years, we have worked tirelessly to host the Lake Champlain Dragon
Boat Festival and special weekend for breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams called
the Sisters at Heart Celebration (ridethedragon.org). This event has raised over $1.6
million for cancer support right here in our community. We have purchased an
ultrasound machine for our local hospital, state of the art hospital beds and pain med
machines for the Vermont Respite House, an Activities Building for our local children’s
cancer group, and much more. We feel so fortunate to have our Vermont community
embrace our event and our cause.
In 2011, Dragonheart Vermont identified a critical need for ongoing help and support
for cancer survivors in our community after their clinical treatment ends. To meet this
need, we’ve established Survivorship NOW, our Network On Wellness
(survivorshipnowVT.org). We offer over 50 wellness classes each month to survivors of

cancers that we help to strengthen and empower them to move past cancer and live life
well. Our Dragonheart Vermont organization runs this cancer wellness program that we
now fund through the proceeds from our Festival. Survivorship NOW is all about cancer
survivors helping cancer survivors.
On the 20 th anniversary of Abreast in a Boat, our Dragonheart Vermont Sisters shared a
special day together. We enjoyed a paddle aboard our dragon boat “Jill” named in
memory for our first member. We paddled and we talked. We shared how each of us
had come to join Dragonheart and how our connection began. One of our teammates
had picked irises from her garden that morning and we held a very special flower
ceremony. Words of gratitude for having our paths cross and having shared so many
wonderful times together were expressed. Of course, we honored those Sisters
struggling and those that we had lost to cancer. Lucky for us, it was a glorious Vermont
summer day. We were also able to share a potluck and more smiles together. Most of
all, the Dragonheart Vermont Sisters want to personally express our gratitude to Dr. Don
and to the Abreast In A Boat team who have changed all of our lives for the better!
Paddles Up to you all!

LIVE, LOVE, PADDLE!!!

C

MACHESTIC DRAGONS
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Breast Cancer Paddling
The Machestic Dragons (an intentional spelling) is the first dragon boat team in New Jersey, formed by and for recovering breast cancer survivors in
2001 in central New Jersey, near the State capital. This handful of emotionally- and physically-weakened women wanted to try an outdoor activity to start the
rebuilding process of life after breast cancer. Lake Mercer in West Windsor, NJ remains today the team’s home base. The original small group became established as a
501(c) nonprofit in 2002 with a mission statement that clearly conveys the organization’s positive attitude and defines its nurturing, mentoring, and teamwork goals; the
physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of paddling; and promotes awareness, education and outreach to all regional breast cancer patients and survivors.
In 2006, the Machestic Dragons held its inaugural P a d d le fo r P in k (P F P ) – a community festival that includes dragon boat racing, music, vendors, a silent
auction, and the ancient custom of the Eye-Dotting Ceremony to “awaken” the dragons plus a special Flower Ceremony in which the attending BCS sisters on all teams
join in boats holding carnations, listening to a moving text created by a founding member, and paying tribute to all BCS paddlers who lost the battle over the past year.
PFP has become a gold standard for the Machestic Dragons, is a favorite race for most of the participating teams (per followup surveys), and is also our nonprofit’s most
significant fundraiser. In that regard, the Machestic Dragons donate a sizeable portion of the revenue raised from PFP to other area breast cancer service groups, most
especially the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC is a program affiliated with the Princeton YWCA), which provides wigs, prostheses, fitness activities, and counseling
free of charge to all breast cancer patients and survivors. BCRC has partnered with the Machestic Dragons from the outset by offering meeting space and also
underwriting the cost of a paddling coach 1 day/week.
Over the years, the Machestic Dragons has grown to include more than 75 paddling members, ranging in age from 16-80; membership is now comprised of
breast cancer survivors, as well as family and friends who have travelled the cancer journey with them. The Machestic Dragons participate in Paddle for Pink and 7-8
other races each year throughout the East Coast. We also try to stay fit with exercise classes during the winter months. We were fortunate to raise enough funds to
participate in the IBCPC Races in Sarasota, FL in 2014, and our BCS team is looking forward to attending the races in Florence, Italy in 2018!
Today, our members make presentations to a number of business and civic groups to increase awareness of breast cancer prevention and to expand the
outreach of the Machestic Dragons as a resource for survivors and those who treat them. The Machestics host an annual reception for the medical community to keep
them informed of our activity as one of the “best long-term recovery” therapeutic regimens for BC survivors, and to encourage them to refer their patients to the
Machestic Dragons to experience the special camaraderie and reap the benefits of dragon boating. Our Paddlership Fund was created to assist those who may not be able
to afford the modest annual dues. The Machestics also participate in other types of breast cancer awareness and support events, including the Komen 60-mile 3-day race,
the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides 5K Walk/Race, and BCRC’s “In the Pink” Fashion Show.
On June 13, 2015, Paddle for Pink hosted 42 teams (compared to just 12 teams in 2006) mostly from New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The 7 participating
BCS teams acknowledged Dr. McKenzie’s studies 20 years ago of breast cancer survivors dragon boat paddling and dispelling the “myth” that BC survivors should avoid
physical activities which could exacerbate lymphedema. We photographed BCS attendees at our event celebrating the 20 th Anniversary of “Abreast in a Boat” Vancouver
team. Kudos, hugs, and paddles up to all dragon boating sisters!!
Please see more about the Machestic Dragons at www.machesticdragons.org and www.paddleforpink.org.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Established 2009
Over 40 teammates
ranging from 35-70
Coach: Terry Maurer

Congratulations, Abreast In A Boat!
California’s first breast cancer survivor dragon boat racing team, the Los Angeles Pink Dragons, was
organization. For more than twelve years, the “Pinks” have offered fitness, support, and inspiration to
cancer, women’s, and mixed division races in California, Arizona, Nevada,
California. The float, “Still Winning,” inspired by one of our
Bring on the next twenty!

Heart & Soul Dragon Boat Team
Melbourne, Florida, USA
Heart & Soul was created in April 2014 by
Beth Gitlin after her recovery from Breast
Cancer.
We participated in only one festival before
venturing over to Sarasota for the
International Breast Cancer Survivorship
Dragon Boat Festival last October. We had
grown to over 30 paddlers both survivors
and supporters but not enough BC
paddlers to fill our own boat for this special festival – other paddlers from other teams joined us to fill our boat.
The experience is one all of us will never forget.
The experience of those days has been a constant reminder of what a great sport Beth has gotten us into. We have
spread the word in our community and have grown to over 50 paddlers within our team ranging in age from 32 to 72
years of age.
Our Fundraising Committee reached out to our local hospital for sponsorship. We thought we were a perfect match
as they were building a state-of-the-art Breast Cancer facility right in our hometown.
Last September, Health First Cancer Services provided financial commitment for the next 3 years.
We are very grateful and appreciative of their sponsorship.
One of the most enjoyable parts of their generous sponsorship – is that we give back to the community by offering
to speak to the ladies that are going through their treatments and encourage them after their treatment. As we all
know – when experiencing months of treatment – you don’t see what the future will be. We let them know – We are
survivors and look what we are doing 1 to 20 years after our treatment! There is life after cancer and we are living
proof of the rewards down the road. We actually have 2 ladies that are in chemotherapy now and paddle with us
twice a week!
Our team has attended luncheons, formal events and volunteered to assist the USA Dragon Boat paddlers who
came from all over the country to our town to qualify for the National Dragon Boat Team– women’s, men’s and
mixed teams. We all got to meet some great people and learned some tricks-of-the-trade from these very
experienced paddlers.
The word is out about the Heart & Soul dragon boat BC ladies – we made a name for ourselves in Sarasota as the
“crazy pants ladies” – we will strive to keep that name as we are just now designing and putting together our
“official” dragon boat team shirts, shorts, vests, hats and custom made drummer’s costume! We will be attending
at least 4 more festivals before the end of this year. Living in Florida gives us year round paddling fun.
We are very grateful to Beth Gitlin and Dr. McKenzie for showing us the way to Dragon Boat paddling.
It has truly changed every Heart & Soul paddler’s life for the better.
We look forward to meeting other BC paddlers at the festivals we attend. If you are at a festival and see some
ladies with crazy pants laughing and smiling, ask them if they are on the Heart & Soul team from Florida!
www.HeartAndSoulDragonBoating.org | 321-266-7340 | HeartAndSoulDragon@gmail.com

Happy 20th Anniversary!
Abreast in a Boat
June 13, 2015
Save Our Sisters Miami is proud to join in the
20th anniversary celebration
of Abreast in a Boat!
We want to thank the original members of Abreast in a Boat for having the courage to get
out of their comfort zone and start a movement that has positively affected so many Breast
Cancer Survivors around the world. We are proud to be part of it.
Our 20th Anniversary celebration culminated with a picture of our team with the Canadian
flag and team mates making a 20 with their fingers, symbolizing 20 years of BCS paddling,
with the beautiful Miami skyline in the background.
Life is better for all of us since we discovered dragon boating.
TeamSOSMiami.com
We are also thrilled to welcome our new little sisters, Save Our Sisters Palm Beach County
who had their first official paddle day and team meeting, exactly 20 years from the day
BCS Paddling began. A tradition of sisterhood continues.

Happy 20th Anniversary!
Abreast in a Boat
June 13, 2015
Save Our Sisters Palm Beach County, the world's
newest Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat racing
team, is proud to join in the 20th anniversary
celebration of Abreast in a Boat!
To commemorate this special event, we had our first
official team meeting following our morning paddlle
in the beautiful waters of Jupiter, Florida, USA. Most of
our team mates were meeting for the first time,
getting to know one another and learning more about
our incrdieible sport that began 20 years ago.
We are looking forard to our first IBCPC Festival in
Florence, Italy in 2018!
Our Mission:
To promote a healthy, active
lifestyle and provide
organized opportunities for
physical fitness, wellness
education, and psychosocial
empowerment among
Breast Cancer Survivors and
their supporters through the
sport of dragon boating.
Save Our Sisters Palm Beach County was
founded in March 2015 when a long time
paddler from Team SOS Miami, Florida
relocated to a town without dragon boating.
With the suport and encouragement of her
team mates in Miami and mentorship from Kim
Bonomo, she was able to bring dragon boating
to her new home town Jupiter, Floirda, and
Team SOS Palm Beach County became a reality.
Find us on
Team SOS Palm Beach County

Happy 20 th Anniversary
to
Abreast in A Boat
Vancouver
Hugs from your paddling sisters at
“Paddle for Pink”, Mercer County,
NJ, USA
Against the Wind (ATW)
Susan B. Komen Foundation Breastcancer.org Living
Beyond Breast CancerRonald
McDonald House SHARE
Survivors in Sync
Relay
for Life
Paddle for Pink

Dragon Divas
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Established in 2006
79 members, ages 38 to 73
dragondivasmn.org
In the fall of 2005 our founding member, Mary Skrypek (a lymphedema therapist), attended a daylong conference on
women’s cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The keynote speaker was Susan Harris, an original
member of Abreast In a Boat dragon boat team from Vancouver Canada. Her topic was “The Dragon Boat Adventure:
Exercise, Teamwork, Joy!” Susan spoke of the study she took part in with Dr. Donald McKenzie in 1995 to challenge a
long-standing belief that breast cancer survivors need to limit their activities. This study sent a beacon of hope to the
breast cancer community throughout the world for survivors who had concerns about exercise and lymphedema.
Armed with Susan’s words, Mary resolved to bring this message of hope to the Twin Cities breast cancer community.
Thus our team the Dragon Divas was founded in 2006. We were the second team organized in Minnesota and we
believe the 100 th team in the world. In celebration of 20 years paddling on June 13, 2015 (a stormy day in Minnesota),
Mary asked each Diva to turn North and salute our founding sisters on Abreast in a Boat.
Our first meeting was in April 2006 with Mary and two other survivors present. Tom and Linda Donner as well as Barb
Michaelson from the Fort Dodge, Iowa, team Fighting Angels came to the meeting and presented a slide show about
dragon boating to the three attendees. With great enthusiasm, these three “angels” from Iowa brought a dragon boat
to White Bear Lake, MN, for a trial paddle. Eight survivors were on board with family and friends filling the remaining
12 seats on the boat. Good fortune also brought us a transplant Iowan, Ron Soppeland, as our first coach and stern.
On a dream and a prayer, the Dragon Diva team incorporated and filed for 501(c)(3) IRS status. In our first year, early
participants contributed to renting a boat from the Fort Dodge Rotary. Through generous donors we continued to rent
from for four more years. At last, in 2010 we raised sufficient funds to purchase our own boat, from a builder in
Toronto. We christened her Nessie and hired local artists to design and paint her. In 2015 we purchased a second
practice boat to accommodate our growing membership. Nessie’s partner will arrive in August 2015.
The Dragon Divas of MN will participate in five festivals throughout the 2015 season and have participated in two
international festivals (2010 and 2014). We provide educational opportunities related to women’s health to our wider
community and send a message of health, hope and survivorship. With hard work, dedication and persistence our
group of women share many gifts and continue to grow and foster a sense of sisterhood. We endeavor to ensure this
special kind of support group is available for future survivors in our community. Our hope is one day soon researchers
will find a cure for breast cancer and our boat will empty.
Our Nessie at practice in 2010

Pink Dragon Ladies, Tampa Bay Florida
Our team was established in 2004 and has a membership of 65 with about
half that number currently active. Our members range in age from 40 to 76.
Our TEAM story:
Three present members were original Pinks. They are Melba Campbell, Kathy Murphy, and Liz O’Connell.
Beginning practices employed yardsticks instead of paddles, and
folding chairs instead of benches in a boat. Finally, two local
oncologists donated the boat, and practices on the water began.
Moffitt Cancer Center gave this initial nudge for the group, but the
individuals organized and affiliated with Team Survivor. In 2005
Pink Dragon Ladies incorporated as a not for profit 501(c)3 corporation.
Since its inception, as the first breast cancer survivor team
in Florida, the Pink Dragon Ladies has mentored at least 3 other
BCS teams. One is SOS, Miami, and the newest is SIS, Sarasota,
as well as WOW,
Orlando. We participate
in yearly community
activities, including the Making Strides Walk in Tampa and
St. Petersburg, and as supporters for walkers in the 3-day Walk(s)
that have been in the Tampa Bay area. We have our own section of
downtown seawall where we are allowed to paint memorial banners
for paddlers who have lost their lives.
Our two biggest projects were compiling and editing our book,
Paddling Against the Current, and co-hosting the 2014 IBCPC
Festival in Sarasota. We plan to film our signature “chorus line”
that our team uses to warm up and get in synch before practices and races, and send it for your amazement and
amusement.We invited all the local dragon boat teams in the
Tampa area to join our paddlers on June 13, 2015, for our
celebration of your big event. We want to show that we are
grateful first to AIAB for being the trailblazers in this sport,
and to give credit to the three women, mentioned above for
all they have done for the Pink Dragon Ladies.
Team Survivor Tampa Bay
405 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 117
Tampa, FL 33609
www.PinkDragonLadies.org
www.facebook.com/PinkDragonLadies