In the fall of 1995, Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician and an exercise physiologist, was conducting a research project at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. This study looked at breast cancer survivors who had been advised to restrict activities involving the upper body. Dr. McKenzie’s idea was to form an all breast cancer survivors’ dragon boat team to discover if strenuous, repetitive, upper body exercise was detrimental to breast cancer survivors. In February, 1996, the first team was formed. The only criteria to join this team was a history of breast cancer. Age, athletic ability, paddling experience - none of this mattered. Paddlers came from all parts of the Vancouver area and from all walks of life. Ages ranged from 31 to 62. It was proven that strenuous exercise was good for cancer survivors. The group transformed from a dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors to an inspiration to all. There are now over a hundred dragon boats in Vancouver, numerous teams in other cities in Canada, as well as teams in many other countries.

“THERE IS LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER”.