Paddling pals
It was tremendous getting to paddle with local Dragonboat Team
Lyle Carter takes a cruise and speaks with some very special women who have found a pastime that provides support and camaraderie.
Astonishing, extraordinary and there was just a touch of fear as I accepted an invitation last week. It was survivor Pam Tonary of Team S.O.S., the Colchester County ‘survivors on Shortt’s Lake’ Dragonboat Team, who set it all up.
There I was, Wednesday night, August 30 at approximately 6:38 p.m. out on Shortt’s Lake with nine breast cancer survivors and six supporters, members of Team S.O.S. Given a paddle, I was positioned at the back of the boat on the right, to my left was survivor Gina MacDonald who generously offered me much needed encouragement during the outing.
Steersperson Cyndi Daley was behind us directing the team. In front of Gina and I, survivor Nan Grant and supporter Trish Toole both offered friendly encouragement to help make paddling on this beautiful night a truly outstanding experience.
“We are out here making every day count,” said Tonary, of Truro.
“We’re enjoying the sky, the lake and the friendship that makes this a wonderful experience. That is how I feel, out here we don’t worry about other things.”
It was more than 11 years ago a small group of women decided and carried out an amazing feat allowing Colchester and East Hants breast cancer survivors to have their own Dragonboat for exercise and comradeship. The official boat launch took place on Shortt’s Lake July 23, 2006.
“Six months ago we had a vision of a boat,” a survivor at the time was quoted as saying at the time. “Can you believe this is a reality?”
What followed throughout the years were numerous Dragonboat festivals and racing in places such as Halifax, New Glasgow, Sydney, Moncton and Saint John. The local team members have enjoyed their share of success, winning many medals and trophies while attracting deserving media attention.
A regular race is 200 metres and teams are comprised of 22 people — 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a drummer and a steersperson. Three boats race at a time. The local team practises on Monday and Wednesday nights from May into October.
“When their paddles hit the water, my beat goes with their paddling,” drummer and survivor Annette Vacon of Truro, said. “This is how we keep on track and everyone paddles at the same time.” Team work is important. “We run as a team,” supporter Trish Toole of Shortt’s Lake, said.
“We support each other and when we are on the lake we forget about everything else.”
Personal support goes a long way.
“I look very forward to Mondays and Wednesdays and getting out on the water with the ladies,” survivo Sheila Clarke of Truro, said. “The support we get from each other, how would we go on without it?”
Fundraising is important through ticket sales, yard sales and selling calendars, Dianne Mantle explained. Thanks to these fundraisers, the local Dragonboat Team can help people discretely when hearing of someone suffering from cancer.
Survivor Nan Grant of Valley, lives at Shortt’s Lake during summer.
“I’ve been drawn to that boat,” Grant told me. “Every year I would hear them going. I had been a supporter but I went from being a supporter to being a survivor after being diagnosed this past year. I played a lot of sports over the years but the paddling we do is very physically challenging and technically challenging. Everyone comes with their own story, but when you’re out there on the water, you’re one cohesive unit.”
Having known Duncan MacDonald for several years and his son Alec, a Truro Bearcats junior A goaltender, it was nice to meet Gina. She joked that we had goaltending in common.
“Pam Tonary reached out to me when she heard about my diagnosis,” Gina said. “My first time out I got emotional. The power of these women — for me, the feeling of the strength a person receives is amazing, the sense of hope that I’m going to come through this.”
It was also good to talk to survivors Brenda Hunt and Margaret Ann Dauphenie and supporters Susan Park, Anna Miller, Jane Rogers and Margie Hartling.
Overall, what an experience and I came away realizing there is much more to this wonderful story. Sponsors and contributors certainly play a huge part and Shortt’s Lake residents are very positive and supportive.
I also noted that S.O.S. stands for something very big – “Survivors
On Shortt’s Lake.”