Breast cancer dragon boat filling up
Having a boat full of breast cancer fighters and survivors has just got closer for a group of Taranaki dragon boaters.
Kathleen Moriarty and Megan Dent are among a core group of nine woman forming their own pink team, called Taranaki Pinks, to compete at the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Karapiro in April 2023.
A pink team means everyone on the boat, including the sweep at the back controlling the direction, and the drummer at the front keeping paddlers in time, must have endured some form of breast cancer.
‘‘There were just messages all the time,’’ Moriarty said from people who wanted to give it a go.
‘‘It actually surprised me,’’ Dent said.
Ideally, they need 23 people to go to the festival and so far they’ve managed to recruit a team of about 17.
‘‘What we’ve got to do is just gradually build it up and not see that regatta as the end of it,’’ Moriarty said.
Dragon boating has been proven to be beneficial for women following breast cancer as the movement keeps the arm and lymph nodes healthy.
‘‘Some of them just want to enjoy the exercise and getting out on the water,’’ Dent said.
At their recent practice all but two people on the boat were breast cancer survivors.
‘‘One is going through treatment,’’ Dent said.
‘‘That’s the first time forever really we’ve had that many breast cancer people in one boat at one time,’’ Moriarty said.
‘‘That felt pretty exciting.’’
The group hosted a film night, which raised about $2000, but they were taking a break from fundraising to focus on training. When they aren’t trying to recruit a team member for Taranaki Pinks, they’re also racing with the longestablished dragon boating club, the Taranaki Dragons.