International Pink Sisters Festival Re-Cap

“Life goes on after breast cancer“

- Dorothy Despins, International Pink Sisters (British Columbia)

Dorothy turns 80 in November. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and started paddling the next year. Paddling, particularly dragonboat paddling, is big in Canada thanks to oncologist Dr Don Mackenzie who recommended paddling as a therapeutic exercise to reduce post-operative lymphoedema in breast cancer patients.

On Sunday, September 6th, Dorothy was part of the International Pink Sisters team that paddled its way to victory (All-Female Category) at the 3rd edition of the ESCA (English Speaking Cancer Association) PADDLEforCANCER Dragonboat Festival on the Lac de Joux.

The International Pink Sisters team, led by founder Mary Connelly, flew in especially for the races from South Africa, the US and Canada.

The team – comprised uniquely of breast cancer survivors – honoured the festival with the pink carnation ceremony.

Opening with their theme song “That’s What Friends Are For“, the International Pink Sisters, hand in hand with the ESCA Breast Strokers team and the Marrainage Cancer du Sein, threw pink carnations from the dragonboats onto the lake, in memory of breast cancer patients who have passed away and as witness to the universality of support for breast cancer survivors.

The International Pink Sisters dragonboat paddling team travel at least once a year to compete / participate in cancer awareness dragonboat festivals. They paddled in Singapore in 2006 and in Vogalonga, Italy in 2007.

Mary Connelly is sending out invitations to breast cancer survivors all over the world to sign up for the International Pink Sisters team that will participate in the Peterborough, Canada dragonboat festival in June 2010. Cut-off date for enrolment is mid-October 2009.

For more information on their events and team visit their members website.