Submitted by Christina (Pink Dragonistas Hannover).
This year Hannover welcomed 10 breast cancer standard boat teams for the fourth breast cancer cup as part of the 29th festival edition of our ,Drachenbootfestival Hannover` on Pentecost weekend. Again, we welcomed mostly BCP composite teams from different German clubs – with some paddlers experiencing their first regatta ever -, but also a Pink Royals team & friends formed of paddlers from Great Britain, but also Austria, Belgium and Germany as well as our most loyal paddling pals from Copenhagen. We have deepened our friendships with 250 breast cancer paddlers at one of the biggest BCP regattas in Europe!
All breast cancer teams set up their tents next to each other for the race days, united for warm-ups, dancing and singing and of course paddling. We met on the water for three timed races on Saturday and Sunday morning to qualify for the breast cancer A and B finals. Again winning was the least important thing this weekend. Every breast cancer paddler can remember the breast cancer weekend in Hannover by a medal awarded at the party on Sunday night which ended with a live concert in the Swiss Life Hall.
But to begin with, on Friday night, all breast cancer paddlers met for a get-together in the local beergarden Kaiserschänke near the lake Maschsee to share fingerfood and drinks, chats and music, preparing for the 250m races. On Saturday night, some of us went on a sightseeing walk finishing in the old town for dinner and dancing.
The flower ceremony on Sunday was one of the most emotional moments for many of us and the spectators watching from the shoreline. Ten boats filled with breast cancer paddlers circled and floated near the North shore while a trumpet played two songs of remembrance for the paddlers in the boats - for the survivors and for the fighters – as well as for those who have lost their fight against breast cancer. We returned completely soaked, as heavens wept, but the rain somehow emphasized the meaning of the flower ceremony – leaving us in tears for too many who left us too soon.
In spite of a long party on Sunday, some breast cancer teams got up early on Monday to race in the 2000 m pursuit race and were rewarded by a sunny morning. We will remember a special long weekend in Hannover filled with memories and are looking forward to the 30th „Drachenbootfestival Hannover`, so mark your calenders for Pentecost 2026!
Christina (Pink Dragonistas Hannover)
