Busting Out Dragon Boat Team

We’re all in the same boat. Literally and figuratively. The literal boat is a beauty–long and sleek,adorned with a gilded dragon’s head and tail–swift and sturdy. The euphemistic vessel is another story–a hapless abomination. Breast cancer! We all have breast cancer. Ours is a perilous craft!

“We” are “Busting Out” Breast Cancer Action’s dragon boat team. Plucked from diverse age groups,professions,backgrounds and fitness levels we have been plunked in both these boats by the great equalizer cancer.

We have become a team. Seventy strong. Our mission is simple:to raise awareness of this disgusting disease which is systematically robbing us of our friends,our dreams,our futures. In the process we have developed bonds which can never be broken and strength which will serve us well in whatever may lie ahead.

Neophyte athletes,most of us. Propelled by fear and hope and desperation .Pushing ourselves beyond limits we thought were possible we challenge the bodies that have betrayed us. We paddle with fury,fired by a unique combination of rage and joy and love. We paddle for ourselves and for our children.We paddle for our friends who have lost the fight.We paddle for Nicole and Carol and Linda and Norma……

Ours is not a somber team however. Raucous laughter whirls around us as we practice on the Rideau River. Lusty singing draws attention to the women in the fuchsia shirts,many breastless or lopsided like Amazon warriors. We twist. We shout.

We have finished our tenth season. Travel has become an important part of our agenda. Competing in festivals far and wide has fueled our latent competitiveness. We will win the race. We will win the battle!

“I had read about the survivor dragon boat teams before my initial diagnosis, but never imagined that it would be for me. With the wonderful support of the team members and the fabulous coaching we’ve been fortunate to receive, I’ve learned a new skill, joined a wonderful team, and feel privileged to be part of a worldwide movement helping breast cancer survivors enjoy better health and improved fitness. This is just about the most fun thing I’ve ever done in my life, and even after just one season (and only part of a season at that) I miss being on the water and can’t wait for spring!” Dragon Boat member

For more information please visit www.bustingout.ca.

News – June 2010

Busting Out, BCA’s dragon boat team, is now well into the 2010 season.  We have been practicing twice a week at the Rideau Canoe Club since early May and have participated in two incredible festivals so far.  Peterborough hosted 73 breast cancer survivor teams 11-13 June.

We paraded, paddled and partied with close to 2000 other survivor paddlers and the rain on Saturday did not dampen our spirits.  We posted good times and experienced a sense of joy and accomplishment when we placed first in one of our races.  The sadness we felt at learning of the passing of one of our founding members was offset by the sharing of stories with numerous paddlers from around the world who knew her well.

The next weekend we paddled in the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, the largest in North America.  Once again, a little rain (OK a lot for one race) did nothing to diminish our enthusiasm.

Dragon boating is a team sport that builds harmony and a feeling of togetherness and as breast cancer survivors our aim is to participate.

We are winners no matter where we place but a group of cancer survivors keeping pace with or even out paddling younger and/or mixed teams sends the message that life can go on after cancer. Placing third in the women’s C division was a delightful bonus.

As a paddler from another team said “cancer touches us all” and in that spirit two elite women’s teams from Chelsea and Philadelphia choose to paddle with Busting Out and raft together in front of the bleachers for the carnation ceremony.

We are looking forward to festivals in St. Catharines, Stratford and Carleton Place.