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News From Germany - Ravenna

Submitted by Christina...

China (IDBF) World Cup

Submitted by Meri Gibson, IBCPC President...

Go Europe in Annecy

Go Europe, the European composite team, travelled to Annecy in October to take part at their annual festival.The team was represented by 5 different countries; unfortunately due to illness we only had 13 in the boat. The theme for the event was Movies, so we thought Mama Mia and Abba would be the perfect costumes for us, who would off thought that 13 Abba dressed paddlers would win the 1000m race, celebrated on stage singing to Dancing Queen. The next day in our Go Europe uniforms we also won th...

Club Crew World Championships

Submitted by Meri Gibson, IBCPC President...

IBCPC Outreach Clinics Program

Submitted by Lucia De Ranieri, Vicepresident of IBCPC...

News From Argentina

Submitted by Lia Del PradoRemeras Rosas La Plata - @remerasrosasokBs As- Argentina...

United Ladies In France

Submitted by Denise Ma, DA Western Region, Dragons Abreast Australia...

Paddlers Abreast Canada

Under the umbrella of Paddlers Abreast Canada, members of three Canadian teams came together and entered this festival as a composite team. Members of the crew came from Chest Mates (Kingston), Chemo Savvy (Winnipeg) and Paddlers Abreast (Vancouver). The event was hosted by the Latino America en Rosa breast cancer dragon boat network. Canadian paddlers assisted at a day long workshop for new paddlers, helping with technique development and safety training. The training day was followed by a two...

Editor's Report

Submitted by Louise Granaham...

Paddle With A Purpose

By Cindy Crowell.Director of Public Relations.Paddles with a Purpose.Five years ago, in July 2019, a group of remarkable women came together to form Paddles with a Purpose, a Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat team in Austin, Texas. On July 18th they gathered to celebrate their strength, resilience, and the incredible journey they have been on together for the past 5 years.Paddles with a Purpose was founded just before the world was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unprecedented ...

Alps Dragon Boat Races

Report by Svenja Franke Bruhn.IPCPC National Representative Germany and Country Liaison Austria.I've reported on this unique event in the Alps several times before. Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2023, it's been known as the highest Dragonboat race in the world. Though it may not hold that title forever, it will undoubtedly remain a beloved destination in Europe.The Vienna Pink Dragons have been regular participants over the years. Initially, they paddled with their supporters, the Vienna D...

Ireland News

Written by Marion Egan.While a number of Irish clubs have participated in overseas regattas this year, it’s been a great year for the Suir Dragon Paddlers from Clonmel. They travelled to Valladoid DBR in Spain and competed in temperatures that were well beyond Irish norms. But not a bother to them after their months of training at home.After a shaky start, they gathered themselves and kept their nerve and improved times and performance in each race, leaving other teams behind. They faced their...

The Olympic Flame

Submitted by Emilie Blond.On June 30th, during the Paris 2024 Olympic torch relay and for the first time in the history of Dragon Boating, the Olympic Flame travelled with pink breast cancer ladies on board. Members of Champ’ Dragon Ladies, a very young team created in 2022 at Châlons-en-Champagne (France), had the opportunity to be chosen by the Olympic Committee to paddle across “Lac du Der”.This Sunday morning, all the elements were unleashed : rain, wind, storm, we could see waves on ...

Breast Cancer Drug Trials

Submitted by Meri Gibson on behalf of Breast Cancer Research Trust (BCRT), Hamilton, New Zealand. The research team is busy setting up two international clinical trials and an evaluation project. They look forward to making the following studies available to their patients:An international drug trial called the “CAMBRIA-2”. This trial will investigate a new hormone (endocrine) drug called Camizestrant. This will be compared to standard hormone treatment for patients who are high risk for bre...

Breasts Ahoy

Breasts Ahoy Dragon Boating team will be participating in the St. Andrews Race by the Sea Festival on September 21st. All teams have been challenged to raise $1,000.00 in support of Mental Health in Saint John and surrounding area. To raise funds, we’re having a: Christmas in July 5km PaddleYour support would be greatly appreciated. This is an important cause for many of us....

Shanghai AngelCare

IBCPC China Rep Beirong Xiong updates readers on the Chinese team that made history at last year’s New Zealand quadrennial gathering.One year on from their memorable trip to New Zealand, the Shanghai AngelCare dragon boat team (formerly Shanghai Dragon Sisters) are stronger and more determined than ever. And what better time to catch up with them than on the anniversary of their stepping onto that world stage. I travelled to China this spring to see what influence the experience has had, and w...

Dragon Boat Atlanta

In the heart of Atlanta, nestled amidst the urban landscape and bustling city life, a unique movement began to take shape in 2004. On that chilly February afternoon, Dragon Boat Atlanta embarked on its maiden voyage, marking the inception of a journey that would span two decades of camaraderie, resilience, and empowerment. Founded by Beverly Booth, inspired by the dragon boat program for cancer survivors in Charleston, South Carolina overseen by her cousin Sterling, Dragon Boat Atlanta emerged a...

Dragon Divas

The Dragon Divas of Saint Paul, Minnesota were honored last night by the Minnesota Senior Sports Association (MSSA) as their 2024 Team of the Year! The Minnesota Senior Sports Association is dedicated to encouraging and supporting Minnesotans aged 50 and older in their pursuit of competitive athletics.Dragon Divas attended an awards banquet along with other honorees from Minnesota that encompassed sports from Jui Jitsu to pickleball, a former olympian, to an honoree who ran the Boston Marathon ...

Paddle Palooza

Submitted by Annette Johnson.Attendee and National Representative for USA Western Region.On July 9 and 10th, Silver Lining Montana hosted their 2nd Annual Exercise and Lifestyle Medicine in Oncology Care and Survivorship Conference at the University of Montana. This 2 day session brought together some of the top oncology providers and researchers in the industry to enlighten the cancer community with lifestyle medical tools for those in healthcare, with an emphasis on methods to improve standar...

News From Brazil

Submitted by MÁRCIA DENISE IULIANO SOUZA.Drummer da Equipe Meninas do Lago.(English Translation Follows)O PARAJAPS é o maior evento paradesportivo do Estado do Paraná, que envolve atletas de todos os municípios em diversas modalidades esportivas, individuais e coletivas.Em 2023, a disputa em Dragon Boat participou desse evento apenas como demonstração de uma modalidade esportiva e contou com a participação de 3 equipes e quase 70 atletas sobreviventes do câncer de mama. Já em 2024, a m...

Dragons Abreast Blue Mountains

Submitted by Janette Fry, Co-Founder - Dragons Abreast Blue Mountains.Dragons Abreast Blue Mountains is a very new and small Breast Cancer Survivor club in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, Australia approximately 1.5 hours west of Sydney.Recently on July 6th of this year we celebrated our First Birthday and Official Launch Day. We currently have 14 members and are building with several new members ready to join.We paddle on the beautiful and picturesque Wentworth Falls Lake and our Mo...

News From Germany

Submitted by Christina (Pink Dragonistas Hannover).The third pink cup was again part of the “Drachenbootfestival Hannover”. For the 28th festival edition on Pentecost weekend, 11 BCS teams colored Lake Maschsee in downtown Hannover pink.This year, we welcomed pink composite teams from different German clubs – some even experienced their first regatta ever. There was also a Go Europe team formed of paddlers from around Europe as well as our dear friends from Denmark, the Copenhagen Dragonbo...

Dragons Abreast Mackay

Submitted by Cheryl Machen.We are so excited to be fielding a full breast cancer survivor team from Mackay for the 2026 IBCPC Participatory Festival in France. This is the first time we have been able to do this. For past international events we have had to rely on our friends from Townsville and Gippsland to help us make up a full team.To assist our members with registration and accommodation expenses we have planned several fundraisers, with the most recent being a very successful Pearls &...

TK Spirit Award

Submitted by Los Angeles Pink Dragons, USA.A year ago friends of TK Kimura launched The TK Spirit Award as a way to honor our beloved friend TK who brought infectious energy and admirable qualities everywhere she traveled. Those special qualities have been the focus of the nomination process. They are: Influence - Humility - Ohana - Passion and Resilience.We want to thank the many people across the US that took time to submit a nominee for consideration. The committee is impressed with the numbe...

Editor's Report

I was sitting in the boat on the night of our first practice when I heard someone crying behind me.  I thought that maybe I had splashed too much water or that my reach had encroached in her space.  I turned around and Jenny said, “I dreamed about this during chemo.”  That’s the impact of dragon boating and that’s why we do what we do.  Read more about Jenny’s story in this edition of the newsletter. The registrations for France 2026 are incredible.  This ...