Trish finds friends at Florence
Age:
4 (holds up four fingers) and I am nearly this many (holds up five fingers)
Favourite song? The Greatest Showman. And guess what? I also have it on my computer!
Favourite colour? Pink and purple
Favourite game? Snakes and ladders
Who is your best friend? Livy
What makes you laugh? When Mummy is silly. And when my little brother is silly too.
When I don’t get what I
What makes you sad?
want
What are you afraid of? In the dark If you could change your name, what would it be? Livy What are you really good at? Clicking (starts
clicking her fingers)
Do you have any jokes to tell me? No What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch?
Ham and bacon roll. That is what I am having for lunch today.
What is your favourite fruit? What do you want to be when you grow up?
ballerina
How old is grown up?
30 Apple and banana A WHEN a diagnosis of breast cancer changed the course of local lady Trish Taylor’s life, she did not imagine it would take her to Florence, Italy earlier this month.
Attending the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) Dragon Boat Festival 2018, Mrs Taylor and fellow local Louise Martel were among dozens of Aussies and 166 breast cancer survivors who made up the dragon boat teams from five continents.
Trish is a member of Dragon Abreast Dubbo.
“I never dreamed of traveling through China or to Florence to compete. With this perspective as I pass my six-year anniversary since breast cancer diagnosis and surgery, and four years since Sarcoma, radiation finished last week too, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be alive. I missed the last festival in Sarasota because I had sarcoma,” she wrote online from Florence.
Dragon Boat activities provide support and post-operative rehabilitation. They are inspired by the research of Canadian sports medicine specialist Don Mckenzie who spoke at the closing ceremony.
“I met one of the original 24 paddlers, ‘Esther’ in her 80s, chatting in the lunch queue. Dragon boating; what can I say? It saved my spirit and opened up a whole new world for me,” Mrs Taylor said.
“I feel so incredibly lucky to be here in Florence with almost 4000 others in a parade of nations, celebrating life after breast cancer and even living with cancer for some.
“I admire every single one of the women and men in the festival. I thank the committee and all the volunteers. I’ve hugged old friends and made new friends,” she said.
More than 4000 women and men participated, between the ages of 20 and 80, accompanied by friends and family, making this one of the largest gatherings in the world of breast cancer survivors.
“The emotional rapids are never-ending but I feel blessed to be able to reflect on memories and be here to make new ones. I am beyond grateful for today and this weekend.
“Breast cancer has had a huge impact on my life and has shaped me into a different person.
“Initially it felt like I completely lost my identity but I see it was the beginning of a different one, although I do miss the ‘old’ me, especially physically.
“Of course, I’m more anxious about my future and the ‘unknown’ seems to be scarier than before.
“I try to focus on the ‘now’ and appreciate life for what it is and what I have. Now the mundane things no longer matter, and my main priority is simply to enjoy life, love deeply and laugh as much as possible.”
Trish is known for her advocacy work for the Cancer Council and is a Happiness Ambassador.
“I’ve generally been a positive person – with the help of others. I feel very grateful that I have been able to maintain my optimism. It has helped me to cope with my diagnoses and treatment,” she said.
By the time this article is published, she’ll be home in Dubbo.
Welcome back Trish!