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Therapies That Support

This article explains that so-called “alternative therapies” in cancer care are best understood as complementary or integrative approaches used alongside standard medical treatment. It outlines the supportive therapies with the strongest evidence for helping manage symptoms and treatment side effects in metastatic breast cancer, including mindfulness, yoga, acupuncture, massage, creative therapies, and dietitian-led nutrition support.The article emphasises that these therapies may improve qu...

Festival 2026 Update

Opening Ceremony: Thursday 27 August1.00 - All teams to be on site.3.00 - All teams should assemble under the trees. Teams will be located by country and then alphabetically by team, from Argentina first through to USA last. France will walk in last, in the same way as the Olympics.4.00 - Teams start walking.4.30pm - Teams are on site.5.00 - It is expected that all teams will be on the beach ready for the speeches and the awakening of the Dragons, followed by the opening ceremony and festivities...

Paddles Ready Podcast

Paddles Ready Podcast: This is really cool.These guys will be commentating the club crew championships in Hualien. They talk a bit at the start and I come in at about 10 minutes. Tune in, turn it up, it’s a good listen!Meri....

Future Festival Planning

The IBCPC Festival Bid Process Underway: IBCPC festivals are among the most meaningful events in our international calendar. Held every four years in a different part of the world, each festival is far more than a gathering—it is a celebration of participation, friendship, perseverance, and the shared spirit that unites our community across countries, cultures, and languages.For many paddlers, supporters, and survivors, the festival is a milestone event: a chance to reconnect, to honour p...

France 2026 Congress

We are looking forward to all getting together in France for our participatory event. It is such a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow paddlers and see our friends from around the world!Important Notice: The France organizing committee has changed the time of the Managers' meeting to 9:00 am so it will now be before Congress. Congress registration will start at 10:00 am and the meeting will start at 10:30 am.There are two positions up for election, Vice President and Secretary. Those nomination...

Andrew's Coaching Tips

Many of you will remember Andrew from the IBCPC festival in New Zealand 2023 (yes, the one in the red heels), but he is also a clinical nurse consultant with a master’s degree in nursing. He has led many teams in a clinical environment and his particular field of experience is in vascular access and infusion therapy and he is also the lead examiner for assessing the dragon boat para-athletes, so he knows what he is talking about. Breast cancer, uncertainty, and the journey into dragon boatingF...

President's Report

Thank you for the wonderful energy you have brought to our refreshed newsletter. It is encouraging to see the April edition performing just as strongly as March, and it reminds us that when we share our stories, we strengthen our connection across oceans and seasons. We will keep this style and rhythm going for as long as the creative sparks keep flying—so please, keep sending in your team stories. We would love to feature at least one in every edition.As President, I am also part of the Futur...

Pink Phoenix

First BCP Team in the United States Celebrates 30 Season.  Submitted by Meg Kilmer, 2026 President, Pink Phoenix Dragon Boat TeamIn 1997, our founders chose a name that symbolized hope: the pink ribbon of breast cancer awareness and the phoenix rising from the ashes. As Pink Phoenix begins our 30th season on the Willamette River, our hope is renewed and we recommit to our mission - to empower breast cancer survivors through the sport of dragon boating.We aren’t just celebrating at ho...

Croatia's Story

A New Era of Strength, Sisterhood, and Global PresenceDragonboat Klub Zadar has come a long way since its formation, transforming from a small group of brave beginners into a vibrant, confident, and internationally connected BCS team. What began in 2022 as a bold idea has now become one of Croatia’s most uplifting stories of resilience, teamwork, and community.Today, the team stands proudly as Croatia’s first and pioneering BCS dragon boat club, continuing to grow in both numbers and spirit....

Linda's Coaching Tips

We all know that how we are training and the coaching that you are receiving is on the right track. It now comes down to how much you want to become better, what you want to achieve. Ultimately though it is about individual growth and teamwork. So, here are some reminders of what we have been learning and how to improve on what we are doing.To enhance paddling skills, it is essential to comprehend the integration of body mechanics, blade mechanics, and stroke mechanics. This understanding is cru...

IBCPC Festival Update

The 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival will take place from August 24 to August 30, 2026, in Aix-les-Bains, France, on the shores of Lake Bourget. The Congress part of the festival is specifically to be held in the Cinema Complex, Aix les Bains on the 27th August 2026.The IBCPC 2023 Constitution/By Laws can be found on the IBCPC website under documents/governance. The updates that were voted on at the 2023 Congress were added to be current from May 1st, 2023. For transparency and refe...

From the President's Desk

Greetings everyone,I am absolutely delighted to share just how positively our refreshed newsletter has been received. Our latest edition achieved a 63% open rate—an extraordinary result compared with the typical 20–30% engagement for newsletters like this. This tells us something important: you are listening, you are engaged, and you value staying connected. Thank you for that.As many of you will notice, this edition contains a substantial amount of information, particularly r...

Previvor Feedback

Understanding Community Perspectives.  Following our recent webinars exploring whether previvors should be included within the Breast Cancer Paddler (BCP) category—and whether this topic should be brought forward for discussion at the next IBCPC Congress—we have been deeply moved by the thoughtful, candid, and generous feedback shared by our national representatives, regional coordinators and the wider community of breast cancer paddlers.  Many shared this informatio...

Lymph Nodes Article

Respectfully reviewed by Meri Gibson.  I read this article with great interest as removal of lymph nodes can be very polarising or, in some cases, thought to be lifesaving. Below is my Executive Summary of this article:Traditional Practice vs. Emerging Evidence: Lymph node removal during cancer surgery has long been standard for staging and preventing metastasis. However, new research shows lymph nodes actively support immune responses, challenging the assumption that their removal is ...

IBCPC Values Statement

As part of our ongoing reflection on who we are and what we stand for, we conducted an unscientific piece of research asking you “what values are important to you” and invited our members to share the values that matter most to them within the IBCPC community. Your thoughtful contributions shaped the development of this values statement below which we believe truly reflects your collective voice and the meaningful role IBCPC plays in your lives.1. ConnectionWe are united by movement and str...

From the President's Desk

Greetings everyone,As we reach the close of what has been a rather underwhelming New Zealand summer, today feels like a gift. The sun is finally out, the sky is clear, and I’m writing this message to you on a truly beautiful day. It feels like the perfect moment to share some exciting updates.Over the past few months, we’ve taken a close look at how we communicate with you—especially through our newsletter. Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent survey. Your feedback was honest,...

Boobops Team Story

The Boobops Dragon Boat Team, proudly representing the Bay of Plenty, is celebrating one of its strongest and most inspiring seasons yet. As they prepare for the National Championships at Lake Karāpiro in Cambridge, the team continues to embody the determination, inclusiveness, and unwavering spirit that have made them one of New Zealand’s most respected women’s dragon boat teams.This season has highlighted the Boobops at their finest. Their training programme—rooted in commitment, discip...

Meri's Coaching Tips

Getting back on the waterAs the weather warms up and we start on water sessions again before the paddling season kicks off, there is an undeniable sense of excitement. We are all eager to hit the water, feel the paddle in our hands, and get back into paddling.However, after a winter off or a break from structured training, it's important to understand that jumping back in without proper preparation can lead to setbacks. While it may seem tempting to dive right into long sessions, it is essential...

Festival Update

Festivals, festivals and even more festivals! And the biggest one for us is now racing toward us faster than ever. When we first set the date for France 2026, it felt impossibly far away—as though it would never actually arrive. But here we are… counting down the final months, and suddenly it’s all becoming real.The anticipation is building. The nerves. The planning. The endless checklists.Is my uniform ready? Do I have all my gear? Are my tickets sorted? Is the budget on track? What am I ...

Breast Cancer Recurrence

Submitted by Meri Gibson.  Ongoing research is unlocking new ways to understand and prevent breast cancer recurrence. Here is a powerful glimpse into groundbreaking findings that could reshape survivorship care. Below is a summary of an article that I read in Science Pulse, it makes for remarkably interesting and exciting research reading. The article itself follows my summary.5-Point SummaryBreast cancer recurrence risk can reach 30% due to dormant tumour cells that evade standard tre...

Festival Between Festivals

Uniting Survivors and Supporters Through Sport, Culture, and Celebration.  Submitted by Meri Gibson, IBCPC Global President.  Breast cancer dragon boat paddling has emerged as a powerful movement, bringing together survivors, supporters, and communities around the globe. In Central and Latin America, where vibrant cultures and warm communities thrive, participatory festivals centred around dragon boating have become catalysts for healing, empowerment, and awareness. This arti...

Dragons Abreast Australia

Submitted by Sharon Cooper, Board Member, Dragons Abreast Australia (DAA).   The pink paddles were out in full force at the Australian Masters Games in Canberra from 18th – 20th October 2025, with Dragons Abreast Australia (DAA) members coming together from across Australia to race, connect, and celebrate everything that makes our community so special. The banks of Lake Burley Griffin was the perfect setting for   the breast cancer paddlers to enjoy three days of conne...

Continents Collaborating

Submitted by JoAnn Moore, IBCPC Southeast USA Representative.  We caught a rare glimpse of three of our IBCPC Representatives, JoAnn Moore of North America, Wendy Grose of Northern Europe, and Orit Ziv-Ackerman of Southeast Asia brainstorming at the Cyprus International Dragon Boat Regatta, October 11-12, 2025...

Global Health Award!

Submitted by Meri Gibson, IBCPC Global President.  I am deeply honoured and surprised to have been given this recognition. Whilst it is me that is being honoured it is a global effort from everyone that this recognition has come about. Our story is spreading so quickly around the globe and it is super exciting to be part of this adventure every single day. “ EXERCISE IS MEDICINE.” ...

IBCPC Board's Year In Review

Submitted by Meri Gibson, IBCPC Global President.  Over the past year or so, the IBCPC board has undertaken significant efforts to review and enhance its foundational documents and strategic plans. This comprehensive review was initiated from the 2023 Congress and has continued to shape the board's direction and priorities.Review of the Constitution and By-LawOne of the primary focuses of the IBCPC board this year has been the meticulous review of the layout of the constitution and by-...