Who we are
Our spirited dragon boat racing team of women at many stages of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer provides us a sense of togetherness in overcoming a life-threatening experience. We range in age from the mid 30’s to mid 70’s and practice in the beautiful Cobourg harbour twice weekly during paddling season which usually runs from April to September. Some of us travel quite a distance to be involved as we come from the vast Northumberland and Durham regions in Ontario, Canada.
Dragon boating is a physically strenuous activity that combines upper body and trunk exercise with the aesthetics of movement on the water. It is both demanding and exhilarating, and most importantly, fun. As the dragon boating experience emphasizes team work, the feeling of togetherness grows with each practice and race. The camaraderie of paddling is difficult to put into words. Simply, for many of us, our dragon boat team is our floating support group.
Dragon boating is a physically strenuous activity that combines upper body and trunk exercise with the aesthetics of movement on the water. It is both demanding and exhilarating, and most importantly, fun. As the dragon boating experience emphasizes team work, the feeling of togetherness grows with each practice and race. The camaraderie of paddling is difficult to put into words. Simply, for many of us, our dragon boat team is our floating support group.
Our mission
We want to raise awareness about breast cancer and its prevention; encourage the pursuit of a cure and help women who have had breast cancer understand that they can lead full, active lives despite the breast cancer diagnosis. There is life after breast cancer!
Our history
Cobourg harbour
In the fall of 1998, Dorothy Hampson, a retired teacher and a breast cancer survivor in Cobourg, heard about the successful, yet unusual exercise initiative Dr. Don McKenzie and the Vancouver breast cancer survivors' dragon boat team Abreast In A Boat. Dorothy contacted local women that she knew were survivors, who in turn contacted others and Survivor Thrivers was formed in 1999 as a non-profit, charitable organization.
With strong community support from individuals, service groups and businesses, we raised enough money to commission our own boat to be built in Millbrook, Ontario. Breast cancer survivors came from communities along Lake Ontario and to the north learning to paddle side by side, while sharing health concerns. That first year, we amazingly even got someone up on water skis, and attended our first festival in Montreal! Dragon boating caught on very quickly in Cobourg, and before we knew it, other community teams were formed evolving into the Cobourg Dragon Boat Club.
We owe a lot to our past coaches Jeremy Fowlie, Pat Bradley, Karen McKeown, Barb Blight, and Josh Brown, and our present coach Larry Tavenor for taking the oar and steering us in many memorable races (and practices!). Shared talent among the membership has enriched our team. We are grateful for the leadership offered by the following members: Dorothy Hampson, Barbara Blaney, Sylvia Hall, Suzanne Liptay, Jean Hall, Edith Carr and Mary Coleman. And lastly, a huge thank you to Dr. Don McKenzie for starting this all!
With strong community support from individuals, service groups and businesses, we raised enough money to commission our own boat to be built in Millbrook, Ontario. Breast cancer survivors came from communities along Lake Ontario and to the north learning to paddle side by side, while sharing health concerns. That first year, we amazingly even got someone up on water skis, and attended our first festival in Montreal! Dragon boating caught on very quickly in Cobourg, and before we knew it, other community teams were formed evolving into the Cobourg Dragon Boat Club.
We owe a lot to our past coaches Jeremy Fowlie, Pat Bradley, Karen McKeown, Barb Blight, and Josh Brown, and our present coach Larry Tavenor for taking the oar and steering us in many memorable races (and practices!). Shared talent among the membership has enriched our team. We are grateful for the leadership offered by the following members: Dorothy Hampson, Barbara Blaney, Sylvia Hall, Suzanne Liptay, Jean Hall, Edith Carr and Mary Coleman. And lastly, a huge thank you to Dr. Don McKenzie for starting this all!
Our chantWe are a team of women strong We paddle hard, we paddle long Survivor! Thrivers! We bravely wear our battle scar We paddle near, we paddle far Survivor! Thrivers! We put our muscles to the test So watch us strive to do our best Survivor! Thrivers! Survivor! Thrivers! Survivor! Thrivers! That's us! |
Our guidelinesSupport each other. Raise awareness. Give back to community.  Logo design donated by Suzanne Masson |
