From the desk of the President
Submitted by Meri Gibson
Greetings everyone around the IBCPC paddling globe.
What a year it has been.
Since our last issue was published on 1 September so much has been happening globally.
We stay out of the politics in any country and in any country's Dragon Boat Federation. Our main interest in any country is seeing the establishment of breast cancer teams and creating awareness of a wonderful life post a diagnosis of breast cancer. Many of you will have celebrated PINK October where we continue to raise that continued awareness.
Through the month of September, I was travelling globally. I attended the Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in Ravenna, Italy, where we saw the biggest contingent of breast cancer teams competing. The racing and competition were fierce. It was wonderful to be able to present medals across the various categories of breast cancer racing. There will be an article about this further in the newsletter.
I also visited Croatia with Lucia to establish the sport of dragon boat and to run an outreach clinic which was incredibly successful. When the director of oncology in the region is so overcome with emotion at what you have said and tells you that from Monday onwards she will be advocating dragon boat paddling as a part of the rehabilitation post a diagnosis of not just breast cancer, but any treatment for cancer, you know that you have done an amazing job on this outreach. Lucia will report further on this in the newsletter.
Travels home was short lived as I was soon going to the Bahamas to function as the health and safety director at the third annual Bahamas festival and to help to continue the growth of not just breast cancer dragon boating but helping to develop options for all cancer paddling. Further content on this adventure in this newsletter.
And then again only home for a week before travelling to China, where I had been invited by the International Dragon Boat Federation ( IDBF) to be a judge on the jury of the IDBF World Cup in Miluo, China. This was a very great honour as this is an invitation only, very prestigious event, held in the home of where the Sport of Dragon boat began, the home of Qu Yuan. Miluo is a fascinating location. More on this further in the newsletter.
At the IDBF Congress in Ravenna, Italy I was able to submit a competition rule change as part of the IDBF events that have a breast cancer category. The rule change is:
CR8.8.2a that "breast cancer survivor paddlers provide a medical certificate as proof of diagnosis of breast cancer and fitness to paddle. A hard copy of this certificate must be carried by the team manager and provided on request". This now aligns with what we already provide for all IBCPC festivals and ensures that all survivors are treated equally.
On the matter of equality, I have been a part of the IDBF Inclusion and Diversity committee. We drafted policy that would allow greater inclusion at all events, this was put into practice at the CCWC in Ravenna. It was treated as an exemption with the need for an exemption requested by the athlete. This policy was then presented to the IDBF Congress where this policy also passed. This allows an inclusive environment for all including our breast cancer survivor paddlers who wish to paddle in categories other than breast cancer.
As the year draws to a close, we as paddlers will be heading towards the end of year celebrations. Lots of paddling fun still to be had in the southern hemisphere.
I want to wish you all the absolute best for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, and the holiday season that follows. Continue to enjoy your paddling wherever you are in the globe and always remember that exercise is medicine. I know that over the holiday period there will be a great deal of laughter for many of you as you contemplate the New Year ahead.
With much love always
Meri
