Oarsome crew needs more members

BY RHIANNON HORRELL

A group of breast cancer survivors who have banded together to form a dragon-boating team are appealing for more members.

The Ascot Radiology Pink Dragons, which was formed in 2005, are a competitive team of ladies who thrive on each others' support and strength.

The team has 19 members but would like to have at least 25.

Pink Dragon Sue Jenness says numbers are dwindling because of the nature of the team and some have left when their breast cancer returned.

"We are looking for paddlers and are recruiting."

Dianne Hansen has been clear of breast cancer for three years and joined the group a month ago.

She says a friend with cancer went to a support group and heard about the team through word-of-mouth.

"I'd done kayaking but never dragon-boating. It's a real team sport."

She says the boats are quite unstable and take some getting used to.

Ms Hansen says each lady has a preference for which side of the boat they row on - depending on where they may have had breast cancer or surgery.

"We've all been through
it, we don't talk about it much."

She enjoys the physical aspect of dragon-boating and says it is a dedicated team.

"It's really strenuous. It's about core strength.

"It's encouraging me to do more. You don't come through all of that without looking at life differently."

In 2008 team member Josie Cooper-Hoeft read an article about the Pink Dragons and responded to it.

"At first it is a bit daunting," she says, but with the support of all the women she stuck at it.

She says any doubts disappeared once she was out on the water.

Mrs Cooper-Hoeft says the team is focused on winning the national competition in March and gives it 110 percent.

The Pink Dragons practise twice a week at Westhaven Marina and sit in pairs along the length of a 12 metre boat.

The ladies are also involved with land-based sport during winter months.

Women are invited to give dragon-boating a go with no obligations.

To find out more email pinkdragons@ihug.co.nz or visit www.pinkdragons.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News