Simply the Breast time for cancer survivors

WILLIAM WOODWORTH

Marlborough Breast cancer survivors have been making waves at an international dragon boat festival, after teaming up with new friends.

The Simply the Breast team joined 2275 other athletes at Lake Karapiro in Cambridge last week for the Participatory Dragon Boat Festival.

And after joining forces with a Canadian crew Knot Abreast, the Marlborough team have returned with a personal best time – and lots of great memories.

Competing under the combined name of Knot Simply the Breast, the new team spent just an hour on the water together prior to the competition.

Simply The Breast member Margaret Hockey says finishing 49th out of 74 teams in the 500m was a great achievement.

“Considering we had 13 crew while other teams had 18 or 20, beating our best time by 2 seconds was a huge win for us.

“The organising committee also told us we were one of the most impressive teams on the water, which was a huge point of pride, considering we only had an hour of training as a joint team.”

The International Breast Cancer Paddling Committee has organised the Participatory Dragon Boating Festival every four years since 2005. Dragon boating has been proven to reduce the incidence of lymphedema as per the research of Dr Don McKenzie in 1995.

This year’s event was “phenomenally uplifting”, says sweep Margaret Hockey.

“Just being there as part of the event was phenomenally uplift- ing - seeing all the smiling faces and comradery shown.” mentally and physically being with a group of like-minded people,” expands Bridget.

However, the real battle for some competitors was being a part of the regatta, bringing medical help with them in some cases, she says.

Kiwi barbeque … sung a few waiata, made poi, gifted them specially made team uniform and introduced them to Marmite - and they brought us plenty of Canadian goodies in return.

“A personal highlight was the New Zealand team’s brunch on the Wednesday before the event” says team member Becs Sidaway

“One person from each team had to get up and share their story and I stood up in front of 300 people to share my cancer journey and held myself together – I had people saying how well I spoke for the rest of the regatta”.

A very poignant moment for all the teams was the flower ceremony after racing finished.

“It’s to remember all those who had gone before us, sing a few songs together, and throw flowers in the water in remembrance” says Bridget.

The next season starts in September with four regattas across the South Island, ending with nationals in Cambridge next April.

“We don’t have a huge team here so we’re always looking for new paddlers, sweep steerers and drummers to enable us to take part in more regattas” says Bridget.

“We welcome newcomers of all ages and ability to join in the fun, camaraderie, friendship and support, a team sport can offer”.

To join the Simply the Breast team, contact Bridget at stbdragons@ gmail.com or 0275757504

“Seeing athletes in Stage 4 cancer and the support from their teams helping them in and out of boats, with their doctors but still taking part.

“It doesn’t matter how sick they were, being on the start line was their victory.”

Chair Bridget Ennals says they made some great friends and hope to meet up with the Canadians again in four years’ time.

“We cooked the Canadians a

“It was a great experience being part of 2275 women doing what they love to do - after every race walking off the water after racing and having a tunnel of high-fives to walk through was so cool, but tough on sore arms after paddling though!”

“Breast cancer diagnosis used to mean ‘no vacuum cleaning, no housework, no sweeping’ – now it’s ‘do what you can’ because exercise is medicine and it’s so good action