The Abreast in a Boat Deas Divas dragon boat team received a ribbon recently for having the best spirit in the Ladner May Days parade.
The ribbon marked the first time the team went in the parade, but that was just part of what the club continually tries to do, that is, create awareness about the fight against breast cancer, while also letting people know, the team is here if needed.
The club is based in Deas Slough in Ladner and tries to reach out whenever possible to let people know they’re here.
They train twice a week and are gearing up for the grand prix of dragon boat races, the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat races in Vancouver this weekend (June 24 to 25). They’ll be competing against four other Abreast in a Boat teams.
The Delta Deas Divas team has members of all ages, from 30 to 80 years old.
In addition to raising awareness, the team offers support to women who have breast cancer or who’ve recovered from it, said team member Denise Robertson.
“It’s a real good focal point, to be on there with other survivors, knowing that you’re not alone. You don’t have to go through this alone,” she said. “And also for awareness. A lot of people don’t like to talk about breast cancer, so for me and my other teammates, it’s awareness and just the mentality of being out there and sharing our stories together.”
The team has also lost women to cancer.
“We call them our angels,” she said.
They will be honoured through a flower ceremony at the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival.
Thirty-eight are on the boating roster in Ladner with about 200 members throughout Metro Vancouver on six paddling teams.
The combination of water, exercise, fresh air and friendship is powerful.
“You think it’s all doom and gloom, but when you hit that water and you’re sitting beside someone who’s going through the same (thing) or worse … everything you forget. And you focus and you have a great time. You just plow through it, basically,” said Robertson.
Even when women successfully fight cancer, it’s always in the back of their minds, she adds. “Having a good sport like this, for us to be able to do, it takes away a lot of that, nagging in the back of your mind. Even for a short, short time, right? It helps, it really helps.”
She points out, breast cancer strikes women of all ages and it’s not a disease of the aged.
Robertson was diagnosed when she was 46 and is free from cancer. When Robertson was going through treatment she saw many women in their 20s fighting breast cancer.
That’s why awareness is important.
“So people understand, it can happen to anybody.”
Abreast in a Boat began in 1996 in what started as a UBC medical study and a desire by Dr. Don McKenzie to get breast cancer survivors back to an active lifestyle. Six teams are currently in the Metro Vancouver area.
