Breast cancer survivors' dragon boating

Breast cancer survivors' dragon boating is an international movement inspired by the research of Canadian sports medicine specialist Don McKenzie.

Survivors of breast cancer come together to paddle dragon boats to the benefit of their physical health and social wellbeing.

It is an approach to promoting health and raising breast cancer awareness that is driven by women with the disease.

It is helping to change attitudes toward "life after breast cancer," and it encourages women to lead full and active lives.

The citation ended with the words: "His remarkable achievements, enhanced by his guidance and caring, have given breast cancer survivors across Canada a sense of confidence and pride, and a lifeline to a better existence.

"[4] In 2021, McKenzie received the Order of Canada for "his seminal research on the effectiveness of exercise as an intervention for breast cancer patients".

[5] Later research published by Mitchell et al. concluded that: "The interview data support the emerging hypothesis that dragon boating is a vehicle for improving women's wellness and post-treatment quality of life.

It describes itself as: "an international umbrella organisation whose mandate is to encourage the establishment of breast cancer dragon boat teams, within the framework of participation and inclusiveness.

We support the development of recreational dragon boat paddling as a contribution to a healthy life style for those diagnosed with breast cancer.

[8] By December 2020 it had 236 teams in 29 countries including 57 in the United States, 56 in Canada, and single clubs in Fiji and Qatar.

[12] Dragons Abreast Australia head office is based in Brisbane in Queensland and is a registered charity.

Members adopt a set of common guiding principles and adhere to the philosophy of participation and inclusiveness.

[14] Canadian breast cancer dragon boat teams sprung up rapidly across the country beginning in 1997.

With nine BCS teams as of December 2020[update] (Abreast of Life, Christchurch; Bay Bosom Buddies, Havelock North, Hawke's Bay Region; Boobops, Te Puke; Busting With Life, Auckland; Can Survive, Wellington; Pink Dragons, Auckland; Simply the Breast, Marlborough; Taranaki Dragons, New Plymouth; Waikato Treasure Chests, Hamilton),[9] New Zealand probably has the highest ratio of BCS teams in the world.

However, there is a BCS division at the National Championships and NZDBA[59] has a board member with responsibility for Breast Cancer and Special Interests.

Paddlers in the Pink was started in January 2003 in Singapore, being Asia's first dragon boat team comprising only breast cancer survivors and supporters.

[citation needed] Dragon boat racing for breast cancer survivors was introduced to the UK by Eve Elliott Pearson in Liverpool.

[66][67] A group of members took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in June 2012 in their boat Artemis Diana.

[68] Paddlers for Life Scotland South West was formed in March 2010 and is based on Loch Ken, Dumfries and Galloway.It is a registered charity.

From small beginnings in 2012, the team now has a strong core and took part in Vogalonga, an annual non-motorized boat event, in Venice in 2014 and 2015.

[79] Hearts of Steel was established in 2017 within the Three Rivers Rowing Association in Pittsburgh, PA. Their mission is to empower all breast cancer survivors to strengthen their mind, body and spirit through camaraderie and the sport of dragon boating.

[81] KC Pink Warriors, Kansas and Missouri's first full-time dragon boat team, was established in April 2019.

[82] Orlando Warriors on Water, Central Florida's only Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat team, was established in 2009.

[84] Paddle for Pink is their annual dragon boat festival, held each June in Mercer County Park.

[92] Pink Steel, a breast cancer survivor team within the Steel City Dragons organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, won the 2010 U.S. Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew Nationals for the BCS division[93] Los Angeles Pink Dragons, a breast cancer survivor team in Long Beach, California[94] Pink Phurree, Texas' first breast cancer survivor team in Houston / Clear Lake, Texas, and competed in the 2014 ICBPC Festival in Sarasota, Florida.