The Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival the past weekend was my first experience racing with the Warriors of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Team. What a weekend!
I have been associated with the Warriors since 2000 when my wife joined the team. I had the Warriors’ logo tattooed on my arm; attended many of their festivals; took hundreds of photos; and wrote a few words in support of the team. However last fall I became eligible to be a Warrior and I was determined to try to race with the team.
Anyone with a middling of good sense should know that a man of my age should not undertake competitive dragon boat racing. However, there were three survivors in the boat already who had passed their 70th birthday and macho me believed I could do it. Perhaps if I had trained a little harder and longer . . .
It is a great feeling to be out in the boat with these relentless Warriors, trying to paddle in sync and exchanging banter when the coach allows us a moment to catch our breath. The honking of horns from motorists who could see us paddling on Trout Lake adds to the sense of community that the team appreciates. A couple of times during practice I wanted to stop and look at the pair of loons that follow our progress but there was none of that. Keep paddling. In any case, the practice paid off.
Our first race in Ottawa was a special Breast Cancer Survivors race between the six teams from Ontario and Quebec. A carnation ceremony was scheduled right after the 500-metre race – a moving ceremony where we remember those who have passed, those who are fighting, and try to encourage those who will face the illness in the future.
A good start often determines the race and we had a good one that Friday evening. One doesn’t dare look out of your own boat when racing, keeping your eyes pinned on the strokers to stay in sync. The Steersperson (Nikki was back after a hiatus) and the Drummer (our coach Pat) watched for the moments to call for more power, longer strokes and that strategic moment when we pull out all the stops for a finish. Unfortunately, we arrived a little late and the coach and steer did not have enough time to view the racecourse. We had the lead and we just kept paddling past the 500-metre marker, 600 hundred metres and almost to the 700 metres when we ran out of steam.
Our enthusiasm pulled the second-place team into the extended race and that was a mistake. The Peterborough team is our better for now and they were ready for us in the two races the next day. However, the Warriors had won our first race in a number of years. There were five ‘newbies’ in our boat and a couple of them might even have been more excited than I.
I have played on many teams over the years – fastball and hockey – even a little volleyball – but it is hard to beat the team spirit of the ‘ladies’ in the Warriors dragon boat. And then when the mixed teams in the marshalling area greet you after a race with congratulations on paddling a great race, darned if that isn’t the icing on the cake.
Standing on the stage at the presentation ceremony and accepting the cheers of our sister survivors (I think I was the only man) was pretty neat too.
So yes, there can be an active life after breast cancer. Whether it is after a race, or after a paddle practice or even after a strength training session there is a great feeling of camaraderie with the Warriors of Hope. If you have the qualifications, give one of us a call.
And Shawna, (our regular steer) it’s quite okay to say “Well done, ladies!” after a good paddle. I don’t mind at all being ‘one of the girls’ on this team
