It’s amazing how the paddling season only just seemed to come to an end and the Pink Dragons (Pinkies) are now well and truly thinking about the next one! The coming season will be the 10th Anniversary for our team and we will mark the occasion in 2016 with an end of season party, but first there is a lot of work to be done getting our fitness back on track.
Some of the team have continued paddling throughout the winter with weekly sessions on Sunday mornings and monthly winter regattas to keep their fitness up. Our 2016/17 season will commence with our usual twice weekly trainings at Westhaven Marina in Auckland and, as always, we are looking to recruit new team members.
Anyone who has gone through the trauma of breast cancer will know how important it is to get back on track as soon as they can. Many have support groups that encourage exercise as an important pathway to their recovery and dragon boating is an amazing way to take that fitness to the next level. Not only does it mean being able to take part in a competitive sport but there is also the benefit of support from a team of other breast cancer survivors eager to welcome newcomers to the team.
We recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the very first breast cancer team formed in Canada. From the success of this one team, many others were formed across the world and thousands of women and some men have benefitted from the fitness and camaraderie they have gained from it along with opportunities to compete internationally.
So why would you want to join our team? Imagine for a moment a perfect summer evening paddling against the backdrop of the Auckland harbour bridge, calm blue sea shimmering in the evening sun, with only the rhythmic swish, swish of our paddles as they pull through the water; paddlers and boat in perfect harmony. Well, we can’t promise paddling with us will always be like that but when it is, it’s pure magic!
If you are a breast cancer survivor and would like to join our team you can find out more about us on www.pinkdragons.org.nz or call Anete directly on 021 121 6187.
14 July 2015
