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June 3, 2005
Ten years of pink pride
Abreast in a Boat hosts international racing event.
LEANNE JACOBSEN
Later this month, the waters of False Creek will be awash in pink
as Abreast in a Boat, the world's first breast cancer dragon boat
team, celebrates its 10th paddling season with a global breast cancer
survivor dragon boat festival. More than 2,000 survivors and their
supporters from across Canada, the United States and as far away
as Poland, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia will be here
to compete and to spread the message that there can be a full and
active life after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Abreast in a Boat began in 1996 as a research project guided by
Dr. Don McKenzie, a physician at the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine
Centre at the University of British Columbia. McKenzie wanted to
dispel the myth that women who undergo breast cancer surgery should
refrain from repetitive upper body exercise for fear of developing
lymphedema, a permanent and occasionally incapacitating swelling
of the arm and chest area. McKenzie and his team recruited a group
of 24 brave women who put aside their fears and, after a rigorous
training program, participated in the World Club Crew Championship
Dragon Boat Festival in June of that year. Abreast in a Boat was
born and, since then, more than 95 breast cancer survivor dragon
boat teams have been formed around the world.
I joined the organization in 2002, six months after finishing my
treatment. I remember sitting by myself at the sign-up meeting,
surrounded by a large group of exuberant and noisy women. There
was such a positive feeling in that room that I could not believe
these women had all battled this disease. Since I've never had much
of an athletic bent, I think it was the spirit of this group that
inspired me.
Several weeks later, after joining a gym and practising on the water
twice a week, I was a changed woman. I felt empowered and strong.
I felt supported in a way that all my family and friends, with the
wonderful support they had given me, could not have accomplished.
These were women who had been there; who knew the fears of a relapse,
the issues with appearance and the joy that survival brings to everyday
life.
When we decided to organize our very first breast cancer dragon
boat festival, we had no idea what the response would be. The invitation
to the 10 Years Abreast celebration went out to the other teams
around the world in the fall of last year and the response was immediate.
The excitement is building and the event, which is being held on
June 25 and 26 at the Dragon Zone near Science World, will be emotional,
inspirational and most of all fun. There is no charge for admittance
and there will be a lot to enjoy: wonderful food, unique gifts and,
of course, the races themselves.
Leanne Jacobsen is communications chair of Abreast in
a Boat.
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