Health

Sisters of Survival Race for the Cure

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Earlier this month, The Bahamas Chinese Dragon Boat Association hosted their annual Dragon Boat Festival, where a Canadian team of breast cancer survivors stood out.

Published

2 years ago

October 27, 2024

Denielle Miller

Dragon Boat Festival: Survivors Paddle Forward

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Earlier this month, The Bahamas Chinese Dragon Boat Association hosted their annual Dragon Boat Festival, where a Canadian team of breast cancer survivors stood out.

Michelle Lapointe – Team Member, Knot A Breast
“I am a breast cancer survivor in my 25th season on the team, and these are my teammates. It’s great to be here in Nassau, Bahamas. Yes, a very, very humbling experience to be here.”

The team, “Knot A Breast,” established in 1998 in Hamilton, Ontario, holds three world championship titles in the sport. They travel worldwide not only to compete but to show that cancer survivors can thrive through athleticism.

Michelle Lapointe – Team Member, Knot A Breast
“The beginning of Dragon Boating and breast cancer is associated with Dr. Don McKenzie out of Vancouver, British Columbia. There was research that showed upper body strength and exercise would actually help lymphedema, and there was no correlation that a breast cancer patient couldn’t still exercise.”

Describing themselves as a floating support group, the team encourages all survivors to live fully.

Michelle Lapointe – Team Member, Knot A Breast
“Our next international competition is in XD Bay in France, and we’re pretty excited. We paddled in Sarasota, Florence, Italy, and New Zealand, and we have been worldwide.”