Try something new Join the ROBUSTERS CREW At a past festival in San Francisco the Robusters were the only breast survivor team there. There wasn’t a division in the festival that fit their profile. Either the teams were Amazonian young women in the ultra-competitive women’s division or the mixed division comprised of 12 men + 8 women on the team. Still, the Robusters headed out on the course with the same focus that they bring to every festival and were soon impressing spectators and other teams with the precision, positive attitude and ironical team cheer, “Bust or no bust, we are robust!” Surprisingly, dragon boat racing as a sport for breast cancer survivors has not reached the same levels of participation in
California as other areas. Few other paddlers at the San
Inspiration & Donation
Francisco Festival knew the story of how Dr. Don MacKenzie of the Sports Medicine Clinic
The Kootenay Robusters Dragon Boat Team has donated over $50,000 to the KBRH Foundation. We, as much as anyone, know the value of investing in health care in the Kootenays. Our largest fundraiser is the Kootenay Robusters calendar! If you would like to sponsor our calendars call Lorraine at 250-365-6141. Pictured (left to right) Pat Tjader, Lydia Sorenson, Margaret Green, Jan Mickelwaite, Mary Hatlevik (All members of the Kootenay Robusters) and Lisa Pasin (KBRH Foundation).
For more information call: Joy 250-365-3794
Kathy 250-362-9644 Debbie 250-364-0993
at UBC recruited a dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors to take part in research on breast cancer surgery and upper body exercise. That made the Robuster’ presence at the festival even more important since one of the team goals is to raise breast cancer awareness and demonstrate the fact that exercise has a role in cancer prevention as well as helping survivors return to good health. As the festival unfolded it soon became clear that the Robusters were inspiring others, as breast cancer survivors from
Rae Jeanie
other teams came to talk to them. As one young woman who had just finished her cancer treatment put it, “I watched your races and thought you looked great, just like a pink ribbon on the water. Now I can’t wait to get back home and start working on setting up a survivor team. If you can do it, I can too!” The Robusters paddling season for 2014 is just getting started and team members would like to invite any interested women to consider paddling with them.
250-442-3333 250-447-6169