They're all in the same boat: N.L. breast cancer survivors and paddlers off to Quebec for competition - Action News
Home WebMail Monday, November 11, 2024, 03:32 AM | Calgary | -1.1°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
NL

They're all in the same boat: N.L. breast cancer survivors and paddlers off to Quebec for competition

Fire in their bellies, water underneath dragon boating doubles as a support group and fierce athletic activity for these breast cancer survivors.

'The support itself, from the ladies, they're always there to pick you up if you fall down,' says paddler

Women with life jackets in a long purple boat paddle
The Avalon Dragons paddle rain or shine, or frigid fog or cold. (Ted Dillon/CBC NL)

Fire in their bellies, water underneath.

The Avalon Dragons, a dragon boating team from Paradise, N.L., is heading to Montreal for some big races in the Quebec Cup.

The sport has doubled as a support group for breast cancer survivors or "thrivers," as one paddler says for almost 20 years.

But while a breast cancer diagnosis has brought these women together in a boat, it isn't what defines them as the paddle ferociously in the water rain or shine, or howling wind and rain.

"Dragon boating is a sport. We are all athletes. We forget all about our problems. We go out on the water, we paddle and we have a fabulous time," Alice Mannion, chair of Avalon Dragon Boating.

WATCH | Discover how dragon boating doubles as a sport and a breast cancer survivor support group:

These Avalon Dragons have fire: Cancer will not stop these paddlers

1 year ago
Duration 2:34
These dragon boaters have all been diagnosed with breast cancer some 20 years ago, and some as recently as within the last year. But thats not the only tie that binds. They train together, support each other and are heading to Montreal for the Quebec Cup.

Some participants were diagnosed with the disease 20 years ago, while for others, it's newer information they've had to come to process.

"I was newly diagnosed back in October.It gets you out, gets you exercising, which is an important part, of course, with breast cancer, just even for your lymphatic system and everything the paddling and the rowing, and everything's great with it," said Ann Marie Mercer.

"And the support itself, from the ladies, they're always there to pick you up if you fall down."

The team heads to Montreal on Friday.

Get the news you need without restrictions. Download ourfree CBC News app.

With files from Darrell Roberts