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USA NR Update

We are very sad to officially let you know of the resignation of one of our US National Representatives. Cheryl Lychwick who manages our midwestern region will be leaving her IBCPC post at the end of August.Cheryl has been with the IBCPC for the past seven years and has been an excellent National Rep. She publishes an annual Newsletter for her teams and keeps in very good communication with them and with the IBCPC throughout the year.She will be sorely missed and has been willing to help find a ...

USDBF Breast Cancer Paddlers Committee

It’s been ten long years and finally Betty Solley’s perseverance has paid off. With the establishment of a Breast Cancer sub-committee on United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF). This is a step in the right direction as these kinds of sub-committees exist under national federations in New Zealand (since 2007), Canada (Linda Kuska heads this up) Australia (in process).Please let us know if your national federation also has a breast cancer paddler or special interest sub-committee....

"Why do breast cancer survivors dragon boat?"

Visiting Virtually with the Johns Hopkins University Dragon Boat TeamCOVID-19 has shut down or severely limited dragon boating throughout the world so it came as a delightful surprise when Betty Solley, IBCPC Membership Director, received an invitation from the Johns Hopkins University Dragon Boat Outreach Coordinator, Katie Li, to talk about breast cancer paddling in the world, and in the USA. Joined by our four IBCPC USA National Representatives: Linda Dyer, Cheryl Lychwick, JoAnn Moore and An...

A quick snippet from the Phillipines

Just to inform you of the status of Cebu Pink Paddlers' paddling activities.We still have not gotten "our feet wet." We are all itching to start training again, but there are still limitations specifically to: "Those with Immune deficiencies, co-morbidities, or other health risks."As Breast Cancer survivors, we fall under all of these headings. However, we are trying to see how we can get our supporters to start paddling again.Thank you again for your support. Looking forward to working closely ...

Letter from the President

June 2021Wow, what a very busy and exciting few months we have had since last writing to you all.Our follow up work on our strategic plan and targets of growth have been amazing. We have seen the development of the Medical Advisory Panel (MAP) headed by Tracy Sexton, medical radiology oncologist from Canada. This panel is very important as it is about “paddlers for paddlers” emphasising that “Exercise is Medicine”. All of the members are breast cancer survivors and all are paddlers, so w...

Meanwhile in New Zealand

In Christchurch paddlers from Abreast of Life Dragon boat team took part in the Cancer Society’s Relay for life. They called themselves Boobilicious Paddlers and helped fundraising efforts to raise over $100,000 for the Canterbury/Westland branch of the Cancer Society. The girls felt that it was their way of giving back to an organisation that had helped them all since their diagnosis.IBCPC President, Meri Gibson was the MC for the day and used the opportunity to recruit new paddlers for their...

News from Australia

This report from Sarah O’Reagan from Missabittattitti (MBT) on the Australia Coast to Coast Regatta held on the Sunshine Coast on the 7-9th May.This was the first major regatta in Australia post Covid and wow did the BCS teams turn out, there were representatives from 13 BCS teams there. Missabittattitti (MBT), what a weekend we had at the Coast to Coast. So much fun, so much heart. The chance to meet with BCS teams from all over Australia and to have Meri Gibson, the President of IBCPC come a...

News from Canada

From our newest Canadian National Rep, Colleen Ridley, she tells us what Chemo Savvy is up to.Good day Linda, sister paddlers, and IBCPC Teams!I am writing today to update you all, and to share the "Chemo Savvy Colour Wars Playbook" with other Prairie IBCPC Teams. In Winnipeg, winter keeps Chemo Savvy paddlers indoors, so we do group training and team building without the use of the dragon boats. Covid in 2020/21 has kept us further isolated and quarantined more than 90 of our members, providing...

News from Chile: Paddling for life is our motto

Thank you to Paula Farias from Chile for this lovely update on what is happening in your country:“Paddling for life is our motto”. We are from Chile, our country is rich in a variety of landscapes; we have desert, mountains, sea, lakes and rivers, and some of them are already being painted pink. In 2016, Monica Hernandez, canoeing teacher and coach, with a great sports career representing our country, learned about this modality of paddling in a talk by Dr. Don McKenzie in Brazil, and with t...

News from Egypt

The IBCPC President and Vice President conducted a fact-finding outreach clinic to Cairo, Egypt in November 2019. Many wonderful conversations took place and meetings were held with the Baheya Cancer Foundation to look at how to establish teams while ensuring their breast cancer “fighters” were kept safe. At the time there was much discussion in Egypt about who would be the official dragon boat representatives in the country. The article below was published to commemorate the establishment o...

News from Israel

The Drums on the dragon boats have been beating loudly in Israel as they go from strength to strength with building new teams.Dear Sisters of the Pink Forum I.B.C.P.C.My name is Orit Ziv. I am 62, mother of three and grandmother to six. I served in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) for 22 years as an Operational Officer. Following my release from the army I became the CEO of a recruitment agency for the following 17 years. I am married to Mickey, a former submarine officer in the Israeli Navy. We ...

News from Italy

And from our friends at Dragonette Torino ONLUSWe are herewith sending you article regarding the JUST THE WOMAN I AM. This event in the past 8 years, has supported University Cancer Research on breast cancer and is organized by CUS Torino (University Sport Center of Torino) in partnership with both the University of Study of Torino and the Politecnico di Torino.This year’s virtual edition, which took place between March 7 and 14th, consisted of every participant walking or running the usual 5K...

Sisters at Heart Celebration

Dragonheart Vermont’s Sisters at Heart (SAH) Celebration has been connecting Breast Cancer Survivors since 2007 on Vermont’s beautiful Lake Champlain. SAH was conceived by Dragonheart Vermont’s (DHVT) founder, Linda Dyer. Her dream of reaching out to other breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams in the United States and Canada resulted in our hosting an annual event that brought fellow survivors together for a special day of paddling, camaraderie, and joy. As our honored guests at our Lak...

Update from France

A paddling marathon to add to the wish list for 2021.Since all events were stopped for more than a year - and the situation is far from improving there has been little contact with other French teams - and it is difficult to imagine new teams forming up in these days.In Annecy we are still not allowed to paddle although in some other locations dragon boat activity is allowed for BC paddlers. Once the summer months come, we hope that there will be more activity.Genevieve tells us that in conjunct...

Update from Germany

Are you ready? Attention! Go! Ladybugs Germany celebrate 10-years-anniversaryFor 10 years, the Ladybugs (Lünen, Germany) have paddled together. In April 2011, Ladybugs met for the first time. With that, they became the third pink dragon boat group founded in Germany.Although we can't really celebrate due to Covid restrictions, we're happy we've reached this mile stone. Because – it's just a few years ago that we did not dare to hope even for our 5th anniversary.2014 our supporting canoe club ...

SPECIAL NEWSLETTER

SPECIAL NEWSLETTERWe have some exciting news for you regarding our ongoing restructure and development of new roles as part of our succession planning for the future of IBCPC.In establishing these new panels and portfolio’s we have strived to make these roles “By paddlers for paddlers”. We believe it is important that those who advise us, and you as members, are survivors, paddlers, and understand the limitations we face in our bodies, and in our minds.We have added more National...

How did I end up here? A warm welcome to Linda Kuska

People will often ask: How did I find myself in this situation or how did I end up here? Linda Kuska, one of our new Directors is no different to the rest of us. We found Linda’s take on her foray onto the board of IBCPC refreshing.How on earth did I end up as a Director on the Steering Committee of the International Breast Cancer Paddling Commission?For anyone who knows me, they know that I like to be involved in many different things. I don't like to sit still, I don't like to stop thinking,...

Restructure of the representative programs

Following on from the development and feedback from the publication of our strategic plan we are moving forward to renew our National and Continental Representative programs.Currently, IBCPC National and Continental Representatives have liaised with members of the Steering Committee to keep teams informed and to help the Steering Committee to know and be able to publicize what’s happening with breast cancer paddling teams worldwide through our Newsletter and various social media platforms. Goi...

Some changes that may impact on the IBCPC organisation

The future of cheques (checks)As you may be aware, banks across many parts of the globe will stop accepting cheques/checks from mid-2021.We understand this change may take some time to filter across all parts of our network, but as from mid-2021 IBCPC will be following this same edict and will only accept payments for membership fees or other payments by way of e-commerce banking (internet or direct debit banking). We also encourage you to speak to your bank about what alternative options will w...

Updates from Argentina

New DB coaches in Argentina arose. Despite the Corona virus pandemic in 2020, we had some positive things to talk about,We had learnt how to use zoom meetings platform to communicate with many people in Argentina and all around the World.We had continued with our team ́s training from our homes, in a remote way.We could paddle virtually! Something that we had never imagined before.We could dream joining the IBCPC 2023 Festival in New Zealand; and dreams were a reality when we registered “Rosa...

Updates from Canada

On the other side of Canada, Abreast in a Boat, the first breast cancer survivor team to be established and a founding member of IBCPC is setting off on an adventure around the globe. It is their way of keeping fit and connected to their paddlers during the pandemic as they patiently wait to get back on the water. Below is their promotional material. Get in touch if you wish to join them somewhere along the journey they are on.Let’s Get Active!Walk, run, stroll, jog, cycle, swim, kayak, paddle...

Updates from China

Beirong (Bei) Xiong the IBCPC national representative for China has been super busy keeping her teams engaged. Here is Bei’s story of their goal to get to New Zealand in 2023.China’s BCS paddlers set their sights on KarapiroBeirong Xiong (IBCPC China Rep)As these spirited new paddlers talk up their joy of dragon boating with family, friends and the media, a growing audience in China and throughout the diaspora are following their accounts through social media and online publications.“Our g...

Letter from the President

I hope that you had a relaxing Christmas/New Year break, even though that seems like such a long time ago. It was certainly a well-deserved end to a very eventful year and I hope that you had a chance to rest and recharge as we moved into 2021.Here at IBCPC, we have been busy planning for the year ahead to launch into our goals for 2021 to ensure they are aligned with our mission, vision and strategic plan, that our work contributes to a well-governed, transparent and thriving organisation with ...

A lovely update from Wonderbroads, Windsor Essex, Ontario, Canada

2020 has been a year like no other and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the WonderBroads, like everyone else in the world have had to learn to participate and gather in this suddenly virtual world. Like all our dragon boat sister teams, we did not have a practice or race season but found safe ways to gather and stay active with zoom meetings, kayaking and fitness classes.Our commitment to awareness and creating a future where no one fears breast cancer hasn't changed, so our team participated...

Facebook Engagement

We have been monitoring our engagement on Facebook and have been trying to post a little something every day, whether it is about dragon boating, breast cancer or just a nice thought for the day. Our engagement has been really terrific. Here are some statistics to ponder over:Our most engaged post was the one where we mentioned that NZ paddlers were back on the water in July. That post was then outstripped by the post about Mark O’Connor, our male breast cancer paddler from Cork, Ireland. Clea...