Who are Breast Friends?

Breast Friends was formed in 1998 so that Edmonton-area women could participate in a world-wide movement which started in Vancouver.  Breast cancer survivors were once told to avoid upper-body exercise as it might induce swelling known as lymphedema.  Canadian researchers proved that was not true.  In fact it is now known that the benefits of exercise both during and after cancer treatment far outweigh any risks.

Team members range in age from mid-30s to early 70s.  Some members have faced cancer more than once and are undergoing active treatment.  That does not stop us from training nine months of the year, both in the gym and on the water, under the guidance of head coach Dot Laing.

While fun is a key aspect of dragon boating for Breast Friends, the team takes the competitive aspect of the sport very seriously.  We compete against other women’s teams and in particular against our peers, other breast cancer survivor teams.  Breast Friends crews have been to festivals across Canada and even participated in international survivor festivals in Australia and Peterborough, Ontario.  We are already preparing for the next international survivor festival in 2014.

Breast Friends Vancouver 2011

Our Coach

Dot Laing, BCom, MA Exercise Physiology, AFLCA Trainer, and CEP (certified exercise physiologist), is our Head Coach and Trainer. Dot has more than 25 years of experience in the fitness field. Along with our training committee, she designs and supervises our training regimen at the gym, in the pool and on the North Saskatchewan River.  Her goal is to help us improve our overall fitness, our cardiovascular endurance, and our stroke technique so that we are strong and competitive in the sport of dragon boating!  Ultimately, her hope is that the team values and appreciates the benefits of staying physically active and are motivated to sustain an active lifestyle throughout the year.  Dot also runs a fitness consulting company and is Project Manager for Active Edmonton, a City of Edmonton health promotion initiative encouraging and educating Edmontonians to value and engage in regular physical activity.

Breast Friends trainer Dot Laing

What is Dragon Boating?

Dragon boating originated in China more than 1500 years ago and was introduced in North America in the mid 1980s. The boats are about 50 feet long and are manned by 20 paddlers under the direction of a drummer, who beats out the pace, and a steers person. Depending on the event, races cover distances of 300 to 650 metres and can take 2 to 4 minutes to complete. Dragon boat festivals are now held throughout North America. Dragon boating is the fastest growing team sport in the world.

A group of Breast Friends demonstrates how to REACH!

Dragon Boating and Breast Cancer Survivors

In the past, breast cancer survivors were discouraged from doing any upper body exercise due to concerns about Lymphedema, a sometimes incapacitating swelling of the arm.  In 1995, Dr. Don McKenzie, a University of British Columbia (UBC) sports medicine physician, and physiotherapist Diana Jesperson began a clinical study to test this long-held belief.  They used the sport of dragon boating as a case study because it requires strenuous repetitive upper body motion and it provided them with the opportunity to work with a large group of women.

In June 1996, Abreast in a Boat, the original study group, made its race debut at the Vancouver dragon boat festival and a movement was born! Breast cancer survivor teams are now regular participants at dragon boat festivals around the world.  There are survivor teams in 17 countries and more than 30 across Canada. The physical and psychological benefits of dragon boating are many, they range from:

• Improved immune system
• Feeling positive, healthy and strong
• Increased skeletal strength and fun!

Flower Ceremony

At every dragon boat festival where survivor teams participate there is a Pink Ribbon race, followed by a Flower Ceremony to remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer as well as those who are being treated for the disease. This is a very moving ceremony, during which we toss flowers into the water as we remember past team members. In Edmonton we play the song “The River” sung by country singer Garth Brooks.

Our Team Logo

Just after our team got started, the Breast Friends’ logo was designed by a friend of the team, Ken Jurina. Purple and teal were very popular colours at the time, and of course, we just had to have pink. If you take a closer look, you will see:

• the purple portion of the B (B ) represents a couple of different sized breasts.
• The pink portion of the B (B)  represents the pink breast cancer ribbon.
• The teal portion of the F (F)  represents a dragon boat on the water.