Paddlers Abreast Canada participates in the 2nd Dragon Boat Festival para Mulheres Sobreviventes de Cancer de Mama no DF, Brasilia Brazil
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 day festival where participants enjoyed lots of exciting races and international camaraderie.
Dr Don McKenzie spoke to participants by zoom, and one of the original participants from the first survivor dragon boat crew, Ester Matsubuchi, was a tremendous inspiration to all the paddlers as she actively paddled as part of the Canadian crew.
It was a great opportunity to strengthen and celebrate the breast cancer dragon boat community in Latin America with the enthusiastic participation of crews from Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, Panama and Chile who all warmly embraced the Canadian paddlers into their midst.
Até a próxima vez amigas!
