We are a group of breast cancer survivors who want to live healthy, active lives. We are committed to raising the awareness of breast cancer in our community. We want to show other breast cancer survivors that life does not end with a cancer diagnosis. Survivorship accomplishes all of this by participating in the sport of dragon boating.

Survivorship extends an open invitation to all breast cancer survivors, regardless of fitness level, size, shape, race, age or previous experience. Requirements are a willingness to challenge yourself to live a healthy lifestyle and to embrace an up-lifting attitude to try something new. Your doctor's permission and membership dues are also required.

What is Dragon Boating?

In the Far East dragon boat racing is part of Chinese culture.

Every year on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar, Chinese celebrate the Duan Yang (High Noon) Festival. It is a festival concerning fertility on which people ask for rain and good harvest. During the festival, Dragon Boat races are organized. The High Noon Festival is the most important festival after the New Year.

In the Hunan province of China, Dragon Boats are kept year round in nearby temples. A few days before the festival the boats are ceremoniously pulled out of their storage and a Dragon Head and tail are mounted. Before putting the boats in the water offerings are made. One of the rituals at the start of a race is the awakening of the dragon. A Taoist priest blesses the boat and colouring the eyes of the Dragon Head awakens the dragon.

The Dragon Boat races derive from the tragic death of Qu Yuan, a poet-philosopher who committed suicide by jumping into the Mei Lo River to protest the corrupt regime of a Chou emperor.

According to legend, local fishermen, upon seeing their beloved poet's act of courage, raced out with their boats in an attempt to save his life. To their dismay they arrived too late. But, to prevent the fish from eating his body, they beat the water furiously with their paddles and threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the water to distract the fish.

In the 20th century, re-enactment of this legend is conducted as Dragon Boat racing events.

Who is Survivorship?

We are a group of breast cancer survivors who want to live healthy, active lives. We are committed to raising the awareness of breast cancer in our community. We want to show other breast cancer survivors that life does not end with a cancer diagnosis. Survivorship accomplishes all of this by participating in the sport of dragon boating.

Our team is made up of a diverse group of women. We all have our own talents and challenges that we bring to the team.

Who Can Join?

Survivorship extends an open invitation to all breast cancer survivors, regardless of fitness level, size, shape, race, age, or previous experience. Requirements are a willingness to challenge yourself to live a healthy lifestyle and to embrace an up-lifting attitude to try something new. Your doctor's permission and membership dues are also required.

What Are The Benefits of Paddling?

• Non-weight-bearing – there is lower risk of injury than weight-dependent activities such as running.

• Safe – with proper technique the paddler can recruit a reasonable amount of muscle mass and induce positive adaptations in the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems.

• Suited to a wide variety of ages and athletic abilities – training intensity can be varied simply by pulling harder and still provide each paddler with a training effect.

• Psychologically positive – a team sport that builds harmony and togetherness, dragonboating is an exhilarating experience that every paddler has enjoyed

What Do I Have To Do To Join?

My name is Ann McWhinnie and I am officially a ‘newbie’. I really didn’t know what that meant a year ago nor did I know what it would mean to me to be one. Last year as I was going through my surgery, chemo and radiation I had no idea so much hardship would bring something as uplifting as this team into my life.

When I went to the first meeting I was welcomed but felt apprehensive and wondered if joining a dragon boat team was a smart thing to do. I started practicing at the pool one night a week just to see if I would enjoy paddling; it didn’t seem too bad so I decided to give it a try. When I went to my first practice on the lake I was hooked! Everyone was friendly and I immediately felt like I belonged, the hard work along with a lot of laughs was a good combination. It was great to have a coach that allowed the fun to be mixed in with the serious side of thing (it didn’t hurt that I figured out early in the season that he has a weak spot for homemade chocolate chip cookies). Visiting with the ladies on the team before and after practice helped me feel comfortable talking about some of my experiences concerning breast cancer, not everyone can understand on that level.

I don’t feel like a newbie any more, I am just one of the team. I thank each and everyone of ‘my’ team for helping make this summer such a great experience for me and I am looking forward to not only many more years of paddling but I am really looking forward to not being a newbie any more. Thank you for uplifting my spirits and making living a great experience.

Coach Don

Some of us like to dress up!

We all exercise

 

We like to race dragon boats (and WIN!)

 

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We support "The Run for the Cure"

We like to wear pink

 

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We give back to our community

And................We like to have FUN!

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