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How did I end up here? A warm welcome to Linda Kuska

People will often ask: How did I find myself in this situation or how did I end up here? Linda Kuska, one of our new Directors is no different to the rest of us. We found Linda’s take on her foray onto the board of IBCPC refreshing.How on earth did I end up as a Director on the Steering Committee of the International Breast Cancer Paddling Commission?For anyone who knows me, they know that I like to be involved in many different things. I don't like to sit still, I don't like to stop thinking,...

Restructure of the representative programs

Following on from the development and feedback from the publication of our strategic plan we are moving forward to renew our National and Continental Representative programs.Currently, IBCPC National and Continental Representatives have liaised with members of the Steering Committee to keep teams informed and to help the Steering Committee to know and be able to publicize what’s happening with breast cancer paddling teams worldwide through our Newsletter and various social media platforms. Goi...

Some changes that may impact on the IBCPC organisation

The future of cheques (checks)As you may be aware, banks across many parts of the globe will stop accepting cheques/checks from mid-2021.We understand this change may take some time to filter across all parts of our network, but as from mid-2021 IBCPC will be following this same edict and will only accept payments for membership fees or other payments by way of e-commerce banking (internet or direct debit banking). We also encourage you to speak to your bank about what alternative options will w...

Updates from Argentina

New DB coaches in Argentina arose. Despite the Corona virus pandemic in 2020, we had some positive things to talk about,We had learnt how to use zoom meetings platform to communicate with many people in Argentina and all around the World.We had continued with our team ́s training from our homes, in a remote way.We could paddle virtually! Something that we had never imagined before.We could dream joining the IBCPC 2023 Festival in New Zealand; and dreams were a reality when we registered “Rosa...

Updates from Canada

On the other side of Canada, Abreast in a Boat, the first breast cancer survivor team to be established and a founding member of IBCPC is setting off on an adventure around the globe. It is their way of keeping fit and connected to their paddlers during the pandemic as they patiently wait to get back on the water. Below is their promotional material. Get in touch if you wish to join them somewhere along the journey they are on.Let’s Get Active!Walk, run, stroll, jog, cycle, swim, kayak, paddle...

Updates from China

Beirong (Bei) Xiong the IBCPC national representative for China has been super busy keeping her teams engaged. Here is Bei’s story of their goal to get to New Zealand in 2023.China’s BCS paddlers set their sights on KarapiroBeirong Xiong (IBCPC China Rep)As these spirited new paddlers talk up their joy of dragon boating with family, friends and the media, a growing audience in China and throughout the diaspora are following their accounts through social media and online publications.“Our g...

Letter from the President

I hope that you had a relaxing Christmas/New Year break, even though that seems like such a long time ago. It was certainly a well-deserved end to a very eventful year and I hope that you had a chance to rest and recharge as we moved into 2021.Here at IBCPC, we have been busy planning for the year ahead to launch into our goals for 2021 to ensure they are aligned with our mission, vision and strategic plan, that our work contributes to a well-governed, transparent and thriving organisation with ...

A lovely update from Wonderbroads, Windsor Essex, Ontario, Canada

2020 has been a year like no other and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the WonderBroads, like everyone else in the world have had to learn to participate and gather in this suddenly virtual world. Like all our dragon boat sister teams, we did not have a practice or race season but found safe ways to gather and stay active with zoom meetings, kayaking and fitness classes.Our commitment to awareness and creating a future where no one fears breast cancer hasn't changed, so our team participated...

Facebook Engagement

We have been monitoring our engagement on Facebook and have been trying to post a little something every day, whether it is about dragon boating, breast cancer or just a nice thought for the day. Our engagement has been really terrific. Here are some statistics to ponder over:Our most engaged post was the one where we mentioned that NZ paddlers were back on the water in July. That post was then outstripped by the post about Mark O’Connor, our male breast cancer paddler from Cork, Ireland. Clea...

Spirit Warriors celebrate October Breast Cancer Month

The Spirit Warriors from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada have lost a season of paddling due to the pandemic, just like everyone else. Not only have we missed paddling and being together but we have missed festivals which include a carnation ceremony we all look forward to. Every year It's been our grand finale on the water, with other survivors and the entire team. As our summer has come to an end, the Spirit Warriors decided to have our own carnation ceremony, without boats, on the Thompson ...

The world turns pink for breast cancer awareness month

Cecilia Picchi, European Rep - Florence DragonThe 'Old Continent' is walking towards the Winter season, and after a Summer with reduced COVID numbers, the pandemic is rapidly increasing again. Everybody is very worried about it. Restrictions follow one after another so rapidly in our countries, that it is difficult to be updated about rules, restaurants and bars, gyms and swimming pools, cinemas and theaters all closed or partially closed, evening curfew in 'movida' areas. This situation has man...

Update from Germany

Vienna, 29 October 2020Svenja Franke-BruhnWith the Pandemic since March and more lockdowns looming over us right now here in Europe with some already in place, I thought it would be nice to share some positive stories from the German speaking BCS teams. We have been fortunate to experience the camaraderie during the last months while exercising and even paddling together in some places depending on the rules.In Germany there have been quite a few positive stories to share, some of them have been...

Women Economic Forum (WEF)

We are extremely proud of the founder and captain of Rosas del Plata, Dr. Matilde Yahni for her work in lifting the global profile of breast cancer dragon boating.Matilde is a general practitioner practicing family medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over the last 250 days she has worked remotely (while the country is in various forms of COVID lockdown) to diagnose patients with COVID-19.Matilde and her team, Rosas del Plata, had a busy Pink October participating in talks and forums on cancer p...

Letter from the President

Greetings to you allAs COVID continues to keep a grasp on our lives and elections have taken place in many countries, let us hope that here is an appetite for change as we move forward towards 2021.I am constantly surprised by people’s behaviour towards each other and rightly or wrongly how they pursue their own agendas at the cost of others. According to the words of Stephen Covey along with the teachings in his book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” he said:“Every human has fo...

IBCPC Newsletter - October 2019

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Update from the Pacific North West IBCPC rep Annette Johnson.

In the Pacific Northwest of the USA we hope to return to some sort of routine soon. Our dragon boat season is not going to happen as planned - we did get 3 practices in during the month of March, but we have been told that the entity that owns the boats that they will be taking them to storage since our local government order will not allow organized sports until the last phase - which we expect to be the end of September or early October. This is disappointing as we had 9 races scheduled as a t...

Appointment of new directors

Under sections 38 and 40 of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission constitution “Director Vacancies”, the Steering Committee of IBCPC is seeking applications to fill vacancies until the Congress Meeting to be held in New Zealand in April 2022.An Expression Of Interest (EOI) document has been circulated to the IBCPC member team managers and national representatives.What we are specifically looking for?To assist the IBCPC strategy over the next five years we are looking for people...

Backyard Dragon Boating: How to make your own water tank for dragon boating training

Posted on the Hornet website on July 02, 2020Guest Blog Post by Laura ThornquistLike every single dragon boat paddler I know, I was feeling very depressed about not being able to paddle.Not only was I missing my teammates, but also the feel of my paddle moving through the water. Paddling is a very meditative experience. The rhythmic movement of the stroke and the need to quiet your mind and focus solely on the present. There is no other activity in the world that fills this void for me.Along wit...

IBCPC and the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)

We are occasionally asked about our relationship with IDBF and what it means to be an Association of IDBF.The relationship between IBCPC and IDBF goes back to the very first meeting held in Caloundra, 2007 regarding establishing IBCPC. The minutes of that meeting note the relationship between IDBF and IBCPC.This relationship was then carried through to the establishment of IBCPC and also in the writing of the IBCPC Constitution which refers to the closeness and alignment with IDBF.In developing ...

IBCPC Strategic Plan

We have been working on the first ever strategic plan for IBCPC for the next five years. Below is the short version of the pillars that we see supporting the organisation as we move forward.To see what each of those pillars means and how that translates into work streams for the organisation as we move forward, please visit our website....

Let's do the Fandango! with Tim William Smith

Tim William Smith has been continuing to run his Friday Fandango exercise classes for breast cancer paddlers while many are still in isolation or unable to get back out on the water. Due to the global time differences his audience has mostly been in Europe, but he has also now attracted padlders from Argentina and the USA.Tim comments below:I am currently in discussions with a crew in Argentina regarding fitness sessions. How bizarre is that......:-)If you are in agreement, I would like to open ...

Letter from the President

The world remains a very strange place as COVID-19 continues to keep its hold on countries across the globe. As we in New Zealand move towards Spring in the next few days and the blossoms show their bright wee faces as we prepare to begin our paddling season, we realize that we are lucky to be able to get back out on the water while many of you will not be able to sit in a boat with a paddle in your hands for many months to come. It has been really heartening to watch so many of you continuing t...

Merchandise review

We received really great feedback for the range of merchandise that we presented in the last newsletter. The range is being finalized and will be for sale online by the end of September through Team Elite (our merchandise partner) in their online stores in Australia, the UK and Europe.Indicative pricing is:Sublimated T-Shirt - AUD $50.00Printed T's - AUD $40Embroidered Hoodie/Jacket - AUD $70Low Profile Baseball Caps - AUD $25Carry-all Sports Bag - AUD $50.00Aquatic Sports Backpack - AUD $60.00S...

Update from the amaBelles, Cape Town, South Africa

On Day 113 of our rather strict lockdown in South Africa, a small group of dragon boaters from the Cape Town teams, including the amaBele Belles, went down to the Waterfront armed with scrapers, buckets and brooms, to rescue our boats. We had been worrying for over 4 months about what the bottom of the boats would look like, as they are moored in seawater. The first month of lockdown (April) was “hard lockdown” but by May people living within 5km of the Waterfront could go and bail rainwater...

Updates from Brazil

REMAMA DRAGAO ROSAText written with the help of the journalist and supporter (and rower) Ivanir FerreiraAt the end of February, Brazil had the first official case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).The experience of other countries that had already faced the peak of the pandemic indicated that as long as there was no known medicine or vaccine to help fight the disease, the best way to minimize its impact would be social isolation to reduce the risk of contagion and transmission of the virus....