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19th EDBF ECCC of Ravenna

Submitted by Lucia De Ranieri, IBCPC Vice PresidentSince I was appointed as a member of the EDBF Women in Sport Commission, I have been working closely with Paola Pochesci, chairperson of this Commission, and also with EDBF President Schermi, in order to strengthen the collaboration between the IBCPC and EDBF, seeking to promote an interconnection between the two organizations, and contribute to the empowerment of women and gender equality.The 19th EDBF European Club Crew Championship in Ravenna...

Why should a BCS team join the IBCPC

What's in it for us?We get along fine with our own organization, so what's different about IBCPC?How do we join?These are all great questions, and we have some GREAT answers!Be part of an International organization whose mandate is to encourage the development of BCS teams within the framework of participation and inclusiveness.Be part of an organization with a membership of over 320 BCS team, worldwide, representing approx. 15,000 breast cancer survivors globally.Be part of an organization who ...

AmaBelles, Cape Town, South Africa

Submitted by Eileen van HeldenIn the good old, bad old days of the sailing ships and the spice island trade between Europe and the lands around the Indian Ocean, Cape Town was known as “the Tavern of the Seas” because everyone making the long journey round the tip of Africa would stop here for some R&R.This year we have seen something like this happening when several members of our worldwide sisterhood of BCS paddlers have contacted our team when they knew they were going to visit Cape T...

Ireland News

The Irish dragon boat community was delighted to welcome its newest club, Ballina Dragon Boat Club: Meitheal Abhainn (River Community) was established on May 8th, 2023. Denise Swanick formed a Meitheal to set up the club in a way that is accessible to all. The people of Ballina showed friendship, kindness and generosity in helping to make her vision a reality.We are a novice crew but we are determined to accept and enjoy the challenges and learn the skills of paddling, helming and reading the ...

Brasil Remama

Submitted by Ivanir FerreiraJournalist and volunteer for the Remama Program(English translation follows below)Outubro Rosa brasileiro: evento comemorou 10 anos de atividade e apresentou pesquisas inéditas sobre a importância do exercício físico durante e após o tratamento do câncer de mama.Em outubro, o Programa Remama -SP/Brasil comemorou em alto estilo seus dez anos de atividade, de promoção à vida, conscientização, prevenção e diagnóstico precoce do câncer de mama. Nos dias 06 ...

Two and Twenty in a Boat

The North Bay, Ontario Warriors of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Racing Team are thinking, dreaming about attending the IBCPC event in France in 2026. It was great to talk to Louise Granahan, the new Communications Director for the IBCPC, at the Christie Lake festival (apologies if our pink tutus were a little distracting – especially Bill’s) about the next International.Immediately some of the team began doing the math – how old would we be in three years, when does our passpor...

On the Water

By Katherine PeckaOn the WaterOn the dock, there are no sick people.Only paddlers.There are no weak sisters.Only athletes.On the dock, disease is left behind.Waving goodbye as the boat pulls away,Losing its hold meter by meter.In the boat, there is no pain.Only determination.There is no pity.Only encouragement.Bald heads covered with kerchiefs and caps.Scars covered by spandex and bravado,Fear banished by strength.In our hearts, there is no question.Only commitment.There is no looking back.Only ...

One Pink Pamphlet

Submitted by Anna WintersIt was 2018 and I was sitting waiting for my new lymphedema sleeve to be fitted. I had been recovering from chemotherapy, a mastectomy, followed by radiation and then Diep Flap Reconstruction. At this time, I could barely lift my arm and due to complications from reconstructive surgery I was sort of a mess. I do believe I still had drains in when I sat down and noticed the pink pamphlet on the side table.In bold letters it said “CVI A BREAST OF LIFE DRAGONBOAT TEAM REC...

Panama

Submitted by Floribeth Campos de FinizioGreetings from a beautiful country in Central America, PANAMÁ, a place with amazing landscapes, tropical beauty, and a land of the Pink Warriors PTY Team, since 2019 @pinkwarriorspanamaWe are celebrating Cancer Awareness Prevention Month. As you know, October is one of the most important months in the year, since it represents an opportunity to help other people raise awareness about prevention and early detection. With our testimonies, we work to sha...

Greetings From Croatia!

Submitted by: Dubravka (Buba) Karlovic-BabicPresident DBKZ and IBCPC Croatia RepUpdate/news since our last newsletter report in September 2022:Dear IBCPC members and teams! Croatian Dragonboat Klub Zadar is thriving and has so much to tell you! So many wonderful things have happened over the past year, so I’ll try to be very specific:October 2022We participated in a dragon boat cup in the town of Prelog (Croatia) where we presented the DB sport especially as a pink team. We were interviewed by...

Pink Lionesses, Israel

Submitted by Orit Ziv-AckermanAs we are at the beginning of a new year, this is an opportunity for me to summarize the achievements of the organization "Pink Lionesses". The organization appointed two paddling groups of patients and people recovering from breast cancer and set for themselves a goal of healing body and soul.I am happy to announce that the organization gained additional and important recognition last week at the 28th Quality Conference at the medical center. This is the most signi...

Pink Paddlers Dueren, Germany

Dueren? Where is Dueren? We are based in the Western part of Germany, roughly in the area of Cologne and Aix-la-Chapelle.And we had an amazing introduction to the pink dragonboat world on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the races in Datteln which was also the Pink Germany Cup of DKV (German Canoe Association)!But let’s start from the beginning:In the weeks of May to June, most of us joined a training session for the very first time, some of us being faced with a fairly recent breast cancer diagno...

Go Europe Pink Dragons 2nd edition

Let´s go back in time again… There was an article on the first edition of the “dream team” Go Europe Pink Dragons following the regatta in Barcelona in May – as our European composite team started as a dream of paddlers who were only able to meet online since COVID didn´t allow meeting in person to paddle. Following a warm-up in our Wednesday night Zoom meetings led by Wendy and Teresa, everyone found a broomstick or feather duster, anything usable as a paddle, and we started practicin...

Tashlich Ceremony

Submitted by Matilde YahniRosas del PlataBuenos Aires, ArgentinaThe Nordelta Synagogue, Judaica Norte invited the Rosas del Plata team to participate in the Tashlich ceremony. This was a very special and significant gesture for our team of paddlers of life.This ceremony is a unique opportunity to connect spiritually, reflect on the year that has passed, and renew your spirit for the new year.The Tashlich ceremony is a beautiful ritual that symbolizes leaving behind the bad moments of the past an...

DA Melbourne Pink Phoenix

We were thrilled to initiate and conduct Australia’s first-ever Breast Cancer Network Australia PLAY4BCNA Dragons Abreast Pink Sports Day fundraiser on Sat. Sep. 23, 2023. https://pinksportsday.bcna.org.auOur sister clubs DA Gippsland, DA Geelong and DA Bendigo also joined us that weekend to raise funds to support the work of the fantastic BCNA, Australia’s leading breast cancer consumer organisation, working tirelessly to ensure that all Australians who are affected by breast cancer receive...

EDBF European Championships 2023

Report from GermanySome news from Germany about the 19th ECCC in Ravenna, Italy. Two German teams met to compete with teams from all over Europe in the European Club Crew Championships in September. The Küsten Pinkies from Wilhelmshaven chose to charter a bus and drive South for about 20 hours including an unforeseen stopover in Ulm to have their bus fixed. This method of transportation made it possible to not only bring everyones´ paddles, but also the film crew who accompanied the team on it...

Dragon Boat Training Ruegen Germany

Ruegen/Germany, September 30 through October 02, 2023Submitted by Itti from Pink Patrol Bochum and Bianca from Pink Paddler DuerenOctober means PinktoberSo again, 55 paddlers from various German cities (Bochum, Datteln, Dueren, Hamburg, Hameln, Kassel, Luenen, Witten, and Wolfsburg) met in Dranske on the German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea for a training weekend. It was not only to raise awareness about breast cancer but to continue fighting against this disease in a sporting and entertain...

Dragon Boat Terminology

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From the Desk of the President

Submitted by Meri GibsonWOW, what a few months it has been since we put out our last newsletter. So much has happened that we want to bring you up to speed. You will see in this newsletter, which is now edited by Louise Granahan, our communications director, that there are over 30 articles! It’s just brilliant to see teams so engaged in wanting to be a part of this newsletter and to share their stories.For me personally there has been a lot of travelling, a lot of helping to establish breast c...

From the Desk of the Editor

Submitted by Louise GranahanAs your new IBCPC Communications Director, one of my responsibilities is to edit the newsletter. With your help, I have collected some articles from around the world.It was amazing for me to read about team and personal successes and growth. Thanks for all of your ideas for things to bring to a regatta. I have compiled them into a handy list.By now you have heard the news about France 2026 in Aix-les-Bains! I have included information on registration and participation...

France 2026

Registration InformationLac du BourgetAix-les-BainsAugust 24-30, 2026Website: http://www.ibcpcfrance2026.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibcpcfrance2026Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibcpcfrance2026Who can participate?This event is only open to Breast Cancer Survivors. Prior to the event, you will require a form from your doctor stating that you have had breast cancer. Previvors, eg. those with genetic predisposition to breast cancer but who have not had breast cancer...

Sex & Intimacy After Cancer

ABC South West Victoria, AustraliaBy Jean BellWhen Wilma La Greca and John Molinia tried to find sex and intimacy after cancer they say it took some experimentation, an understanding of each other and a change of mindset.The couple has been together for more than a decade. During that time, Mr Molinia had prostate cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma, while Ms La Greca beat breast cancer."You have to experiment together. It's scary at the start because it's a bit weird and it's not your normal," Ms La ...

Regatta Items

Compiled by Louise GranahanWith suggestions from IBCPC membersYou may not want or need to bring all of these items, but this list will get you started.Paddlingo Paddleo Butt pado PFDo Knee pado GlovesFood and Drinkso Watero Cerealo Blueberrieso Milko Luncho Granola/protein barso Almondso Bananaso Electrolyteso Thermos of coffee or teao Treats for teammatesComforto Tento Stadium seat/chairo Blanketo Dry bags (for my change of clothes, wallet and keys in case it rains)o Waterproof phone poucho Umb...

Colombia 5th Anniversary

The Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Colombia Foundation celebrated its 5th anniversary on October 7th, 2023, under its motto: "Paddling for life, together, in the same direction" (¨Remando juntos por la vida, en la misma direccion¨).This event celebrated the lives of the women who, over the past five years, have preserved and advanced the legacy of its founder and eternal captain, the late Catalina Palacio Livingston. It was also a tribute to her memory and to her bold vision: to make a ho...

Road to Recovery

Submitted by Marina HaddockAt the end of June 2022, I was sitting in the waiting room wearing a hospital gown preparing to go back for radiation. It was my last week of treatment and the waiting spurred me to think about what would come next. I would be returning to work and my old routine in a few days and wasn’t sure I had really ‘learned’ what so many survivors say they had from this experience.When I got home, I started searching the internet to find breast cancer survivor groups in th...