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France Bulletin #2

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France Bulletin #3

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Kit Mitsuoka

Twenty years after her breast cancer diagnosis, Kit Mitsuoka is paddling strong, and inspiring others to experience the power of the dragon…including her granddaughter Kailey!“Dragon boating is therapy for me,” said Kit. After her breast cancer diagnosis in 2003, Kit had 20 nodes removed; her arm was always sore, to the point she sometimes couldn’t lift a coffee cup. Then in 2008, her neighbor in Morro Bay, California, Jeanne L’Amoreaux, invited her to paddle with a new dragon boat tea...

From the Desk of the Editor

Submitted by Louise GranahanAs I write this from Canada’s frozen north, it is frustrating to know that it will be many more months before I can get back on the water. In the meantime, I lift weights, do cardio and make plans for France!As your Communications Director, I am responsible for updating the Facebook page, responding to correspondence, editing the newsletter and attending regular IBCPC Board of Directors meetings. The Board meets about once a month. Lately, we have also been working ...

News from Ireland

Words by Clodagh Flynn and Marion EganA composite team with members from Medb’s Dragon Warriors, Gráine Mhaol Dragons and Nore Dragon Paddlers were on their first adventure of 2024 at the Snow Dragon Festival in France recently. The event involves paddling a 12 crew DB on skis down a slope and across the flat to the finish line. A prestigious event with the President of the IDBF, Chinese Ambassador to France, Sylvain Munier of Dragon Boat Attitude and other dignitaries taking part in the open...

19th EDBF ECCC of Ravenna

Submitted by Lucia De Ranieri, IBCPC Vice PresidentSince I was appointed as a member of the EDBF Women in Sport Commission, I have been working closely with Paola Pochesci, chairperson of this Commission, and also with EDBF President Schermi, in order to strengthen the collaboration between the IBCPC and EDBF, seeking to promote an interconnection between the two organizations, and contribute to the empowerment of women and gender equality.The 19th EDBF European Club Crew Championship in Ravenna...

AmaBelles, Cape Town, South Africa

Submitted by Eileen van HeldenIn the good old, bad old days of the sailing ships and the spice island trade between Europe and the lands around the Indian Ocean, Cape Town was known as “the Tavern of the Seas” because everyone making the long journey round the tip of Africa would stop here for some R&R.This year we have seen something like this happening when several members of our worldwide sisterhood of BCS paddlers have contacted our team when they knew they were going to visit Cape T...

Regatta Items

Compiled by Louise GranahanWith suggestions from IBCPC membersYou may not want or need to bring all of these items, but this list will get you started.Paddlingo Paddleo Butt pado PFDo Knee pado GlovesFood and Drinkso Watero Cerealo Blueberrieso Milko Luncho Granola/protein barso Almondso Bananaso Electrolyteso Thermos of coffee or teao Treats for teammatesComforto Tento Stadium seat/chairo Blanketo Dry bags (for my change of clothes, wallet and keys in case it rains)o Waterproof phone poucho Umb...

Go Europe Pink Dragons 2nd edition

Let´s go back in time again… There was an article on the first edition of the “dream team” Go Europe Pink Dragons following the regatta in Barcelona in May – as our European composite team started as a dream of paddlers who were only able to meet online since COVID didn´t allow meeting in person to paddle. Following a warm-up in our Wednesday night Zoom meetings led by Wendy and Teresa, everyone found a broomstick or feather duster, anything usable as a paddle, and we started practicin...

One Pink Pamphlet

Submitted by Anna WintersIt was 2018 and I was sitting waiting for my new lymphedema sleeve to be fitted. I had been recovering from chemotherapy, a mastectomy, followed by radiation and then Diep Flap Reconstruction. At this time, I could barely lift my arm and due to complications from reconstructive surgery I was sort of a mess. I do believe I still had drains in when I sat down and noticed the pink pamphlet on the side table.In bold letters it said “CVI A BREAST OF LIFE DRAGONBOAT TEAM REC...

Sex & Intimacy After Cancer

ABC South West Victoria, AustraliaBy Jean BellWhen Wilma La Greca and John Molinia tried to find sex and intimacy after cancer they say it took some experimentation, an understanding of each other and a change of mindset.The couple has been together for more than a decade. During that time, Mr Molinia had prostate cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma, while Ms La Greca beat breast cancer."You have to experiment together. It's scary at the start because it's a bit weird and it's not your normal," Ms La ...

Brasil Remama

Submitted by Ivanir FerreiraJournalist and volunteer for the Remama Program(English translation follows below)Outubro Rosa brasileiro: evento comemorou 10 anos de atividade e apresentou pesquisas inéditas sobre a importância do exercício físico durante e após o tratamento do câncer de mama.Em outubro, o Programa Remama -SP/Brasil comemorou em alto estilo seus dez anos de atividade, de promoção à vida, conscientização, prevenção e diagnóstico precoce do câncer de mama. Nos dias 06 ...

Dragonesse Avigliana

Submitted by Paola Zaccagni“It always seems impossible until it is realized”. This has been our motto during these months of non-stopping work to prepare for our Tenth Anniversary.Finally, our dream took place on October 6th, 7th and 8th, 2023. “The Dragonesse Avigliana” gave life to a fantastic pink party to celebrate their tenth anniversary.Many friends came from everywhere in Italy. People from Sardegna, Lazio, Veneto, and Lombardia regions, joined us to celebrate.Many people who beli...

Dragonheart Vermont Sisters

Submitted by Linda Dyer, Dragonheart Vermont Sisterslindadyer@rocketmail.comThe Dragonheart Vermont Sisters hail from the Northeastern United States. It is a beautiful land of green mountains and deciduous trees that put on a colorful show each fall. People have taken notice of the Sisters’ affinity toward sunflowers. We confess. The Dragonheart VT Sisters LOVE sunflowers!!It all began very organically years ago. Our Dragonheart Vermont club annually hosts the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festiv...

Dragons Abreast Australia

25th AnniversaryDragons Abreast Australia has turned Breast Cancer Survivors into Breast Cancer thrivers for the past 25 years! The Australian network for Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat paddling is going from strength to strength- just like its members. The power of positivity, optimism, adventure and tenacity are very evident when our groups from all over Australia come together to paddle alongside each other, racing against Breast Cancer.Over the weekend from Friday 29th September to Sunda...

Dragons Abreast Canberra

Dragons Abreast Canberra has an annual event where they paddle from Grevilea Park where our boats are kept and where the new clubhouse for Dragon Boat ACT is currently under construction, to further down the lake, Lake Burley Griffin, to have a lovely wander through the flowers of Floriade. This annual event in Canberra wasn’t planted during Covid, so it’s great to see it back.I’m not able to paddle at the moment so I was able to meet up with everyone where they moored the boat so that I c...

Dragons of Hope, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Submitted by Mary-Jean CormierFor Thunder Bay's Dragons of Hope, 'hope' truly is the key. As breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams, we all live in 'hope' that we will live another day, week, month or year, and of course, paddle another race. But in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, it's definitely a good thing that ‘hope’ seems to spring eternal.To start the Dragons of Hope season, the team has to 'hope' for an early thaw so they can start training by the end of May. They 'hope' each winter t...

Rosa dos Ventos celebrates 3rd Anniversary

Submitted by by: Lucy Mary R. KuntzOn October 15th, 2023, we organized a very important and special event in Londrina City, Paraná State, Brazil to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the Rosa dos Ventos (Wind Rose) team. In addition to that, we worked to spread awareness of the importance of breast cancer prevention and participating in sports after breast cancer treatment.Rosa dos Ventos members, in partnership with another team in Londrina called MamaMestra Movement, planned and organized this...

EDBF European Championships 2023

Report from GermanySome news from Germany about the 19th ECCC in Ravenna, Italy. Two German teams met to compete with teams from all over Europe in the European Club Crew Championships in September. The Küsten Pinkies from Wilhelmshaven chose to charter a bus and drive South for about 20 hours including an unforeseen stopover in Ulm to have their bus fixed. This method of transportation made it possible to not only bring everyones´ paddles, but also the film crew who accompanied the team on it...

Road to Recovery

Submitted by Marina HaddockAt the end of June 2022, I was sitting in the waiting room wearing a hospital gown preparing to go back for radiation. It was my last week of treatment and the waiting spurred me to think about what would come next. I would be returning to work and my old routine in a few days and wasn’t sure I had really ‘learned’ what so many survivors say they had from this experience.When I got home, I started searching the internet to find breast cancer survivor groups in th...

Pink Lionesses, Israel

Submitted by Orit Ziv-AckermanAs we are at the beginning of a new year, this is an opportunity for me to summarize the achievements of the organization "Pink Lionesses". The organization appointed two paddling groups of patients and people recovering from breast cancer and set for themselves a goal of healing body and soul.I am happy to announce that the organization gained additional and important recognition last week at the 28th Quality Conference at the medical center. This is the most signi...

France 2026

Registration InformationLac du BourgetAix-les-BainsAugust 24-30, 2026Website: http://www.ibcpcfrance2026.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibcpcfrance2026Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibcpcfrance2026Who can participate?This event is only open to Breast Cancer Survivors. Prior to the event, you will require a form from your doctor stating that you have had breast cancer. Previvors, eg. those with genetic predisposition to breast cancer but who have not had breast cancer...

From the Desk of the Editor

Submitted by Louise GranahanAs your new IBCPC Communications Director, one of my responsibilities is to edit the newsletter. With your help, I have collected some articles from around the world.It was amazing for me to read about team and personal successes and growth. Thanks for all of your ideas for things to bring to a regatta. I have compiled them into a handy list.By now you have heard the news about France 2026 in Aix-les-Bains! I have included information on registration and participation...

From the Desk of the President

Submitted by Meri GibsonWOW, what a few months it has been since we put out our last newsletter. So much has happened that we want to bring you up to speed. You will see in this newsletter, which is now edited by Louise Granahan, our communications director, that there are over 30 articles! It’s just brilliant to see teams so engaged in wanting to be a part of this newsletter and to share their stories.For me personally there has been a lot of travelling, a lot of helping to establish breast c...

Fundraising Ideas

Compiled by Louise GranahanIt’s not always easy to raise money for dragon boating events, equipment, and festivals. Here is a list of 130 ideas to get you started.Fun EventsBeer PongBoard Game TournamentCalendarChess MatchCoffee-Grams or Singing Telegrams for Valentine’s DayEscape RoomHaunted HousePolar PlungePool PartyPhoto Contest (eg, guess the teammate’s baby photo contest)Sandcastle Building ContestSpeed Dating NightSpelling BeeStreet or Beach PartyTie-Dye PartyTrivia NightTwitch Vide...